What's in the Closet??

<a href=”http://www.devoted2vintage.co.uk/EN/default.html”>Vintage clothing</a> is a phrase commonly used to describe old clothing inspired line. It its fashion sense, vintage refers to the categorical classification of new or second hand garment that was initially the trend in another period or era. They are clothing lines that were predominantly existent during the 1920s – 1960s, but are now inspiring current fashion line or in essence being revived to quench the latest fashion thirst. Vintage style clothing is synonymously coined as retro attires or retro fashion, a term used to describe clothing produced or designed that resembles fashion style from a previous fashion setting.

Vintage is recycled fashion. Retro fashion holds the replication of or revival of clothing trend with slight modification in terms of appearance, design or style, but the impression of a revived fashion sense is clearly manifested. Some may come from old clothing that one may have acquired by pass on or by purchases from vintage clothing stores, while some may be recent releases that clearly imitate the olden fashion mode.

The urge to get retro clothing started in the early 1990′s. Over the passing of each year, bell bottoms were revived, mid riff clothing became a constant closet must haves and so the fashion sense in the early 30′s – 80′s were gradually revived, remodelled and reintegrated in the high street fashion. Purchase of vintage inspired clothing became a trend when celebrities started wearing them on and off camera, the way they played, mix and match apparels inspired fashion conscious individuals. The likes of Chloe Sevigny, Kate Moss and Tatiana Sorrokko, made vintage clothing a part of contemporary fashion. Add to it the campaign to preserve the environment gave birth to the idea of recycling and reusing what still can be put together. The inspiration to reuse and recycle old fashion designs can also be attributed to the fact that most contemporary designers refer to previous fashion lines to adapt or modify a new design or to integrate what can be found from vintage clothing to a new design, hence the adage “old but new”. Retro inspired clothing is often times requested by celebrities from their designers, the idea is to bring to life a classy and timeless design but with a touch of contemporary glamour.

Retro clothing styles can be purchases directly from vintage retail store or from second hand garment shops or even from a warehouse sale showcasing unsold and untouched clothing that were left behind when the new fashion trend kicked in. some vintage clothing can be quite expensive especially for those worn that carries some historical stories to it or sentimental attachment from the original owner or the first owner. The advent of vintage inspired clothing is a manifestation that despite the passing of time, some apparel or clothing items remain timeless and fashionably trendy. Some people can settle with vintage inspired apparels but there are those, coined as vintage collectors who hunt down even the most expensive dress or item just to complete their collectibles. Visit auction houses and find old dresses and suits that have inspired current fashion trends

I was walking in Notting Hill, West London about four years ago when I was stopped by one of those extraordinarily trendy Japanese women who seem to look good, no matter how ridiculous their outfits. I thought she was going to ask for directions, but, in charmingly Japanese accented English, she asked if I would sell her the denim jacket I was wearing.

I wasn’t offended, or surprised by her request. The jacket is a red tabbed, denim blouson, single breast pocket, with yellow stitching and rear belt. I had stopped a man in Portobello Road two or three years earlier and asked him to sell me the same jacket. I knew it was a desirable Levi vintage of the 40s or 50s and I paid £15.00 ($30.00) for it.

I asked the Japanese lady how much she wanted to pay? She smiled, thought for a minute and replied: £400.00 ($800.00). I was surprised, but I was pretty well off, at the time, I didn’t need the money. I thanked her, very much, we bowed to one another, she giggled and we went off in different directions. I never saw her again.

In the early seventies, having returned from a year in Spain, I arrived penniless on Portobello Road. I crashed with friends and they introduced me to a guy making a good living from recycled denim, bought by the ton, ripped, re-cut and made into coats, jackets and shirts. He and I became friends and eventually partners.

At the time, denim was considered very low-grade by rag merchants, who recycled most of the rags they collected for use as wiping cloths in industry. Denim is not very absorbent, so it was cheap. A ton of washed denim cost us £75.00 ($150.00). In the early seventies it was not the fashion to wear your denim with holes or rips, so the denim we were buying was nearly always in good condition and reusable.

We took it in turns travelling around the UK, visiting rag yards with which we had agreements to sort and save denim. We also bought denim from the USA via a dealer named, Mr Denim. At his warehouse in Croydon, south London, we were allowed to sort through piles of denim pants and denim jackets and, as much of this denim was collected from prisons, large numbers of denim overalls (bib and brace). For each garment we were charged £0.75p regardless of condition. We found many interesting vintage denim garments too and we always had a ready market for those on Portobello Road, where we opened one of the very first stalls selling vintage.

Unfortunately we could never buy enough denim to make into clothing to satisfy our customers. People would queue outside the door of our workshop in Basing Street on the days we received new stock from our machinists and fight over whatever arrived. One of those customers decided to use the name we’d painted on the door in pink paint, but had neglected to register, turning it into a very successful brand name.

One of our very best customers for the denim clothes we were making was an Italian, with a shop in Kensington Market. Years later he became a very successful vintage watch dealer and we have remained friends. A couple of years after the Japanese lady stopped me and asked to by my denim jacket he saw me wearing the jacket and he asked if I would be willing to sell it to him. I told him about the Japanese woman and asked if he would pay more than £400.00? He offered £300.00. He said the jacket was rare, but prices had fallen since the Japanese lady had made her offer. So had the pound sterling against the dollar and £300 then was little more than $450. I thanked him and refused his offer.

I probably would not have sold it for a thousand pounds. Although it is now a little tatty at the edges and faded, I love it. I’m always looking forward to the next offer though.

Author Bio: Visit VintageRagTrader.com!

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