This coming Sunday, York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, will host The Affordable Vintage Fair, a very successful and ever-expanding display of clothes, shoes, jewellery and homeware for sale from several decades of style; enough to make any vintage enthusiast wade through the swamp that is weekend Tube traffic and delays in order to be there.And so, despite inspiring me to make the hour-long commute to London on a Sunday, the fair also initiated a debate in my mind. What is it about second-hand clothing that makes us so fascinated, so excited, so easily parted with our money?
Despite an appreciation for the old and the interesting existing for years, it is only in the last decade or so that the demand for vintage clothing has increased dramatically, leading to vintage becoming an industry in itself.
a beautiful garment from generations before them brings. For others, it is about the actual act of searching in a dusty old shop to uncover buried treasure. And for a few, it is all about the style, the eccentricity, and the knowledge that fashion is one big cycle, meaning any day now that fuchsia jacket with the shoulder pads will be back in style! And of course, I must mention the practical reasons for choosing second-hand clothing in that it is ethical; through purchasing clothes that are, essentially, hand-me-downs, you are recycling. Furthermore, the cost compared to modern manufactured clothing is much less.
And so, in taking all these factors into careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that there is no conclusion. Like everything else, one must find their own reasons for being passionate about it. Me personally? In the words of a good friend of mine, I like to see each piece of clothing as 'a beautiful piece of art that I wear on my body'.
Get down to the Affordable Vintage Fair this Sunday. See you there!
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