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Kilo sales:

Kilo sales are like the next step up in your 2nd hand clothing transition. You must have the ability to rummage and keep an open mind, but its totally worth it. So, what is a kilo sale? Essentially, it’s a big room packed wall to wall with vintage clothes and instead of paying for each individual item, you pay for how much your items weigh. The first ever kilo sale in the UK took place in 2009 and now there are hundreds all around the country every month. Most of the time tickets to kilo sales are only a couple of pounds or sometimes free and you can purchase these online. You’ll get to book a time slot, as the clothes on the rails get swapped and changed often to replace what’s been sold. When you arrive, you’ll get a large plastic bag which you can then fill with however much you want. Once you’re done, the bag will be weighed and priced accordingly. Normally 1 kilo costs between £15-20. To give you a rough idea, T-shirts & dresses typically weigh around 300g, jackets around 1kg, and trousers around 500g. Perhaps an obvious one, but a rule of thumb: the more it weighs, the more you pay. Let’s say you fill your bag with two t-shirts, a dress, a jacket, and a pair of trousers – this would end up costing you about £36, which works out to be about £7 per item. NOT bad at all!

Carboot sales: I think we’re all probably familiar with what a carboot sale is. I personally spent a lot of my childhood at carboot sales, so they always feel quite nostalgic whenever I go to one. But apart from that, they are also a great place to pick up some super cheap pieces. The stall holders at carboot sales are mostly everyday people like you and me who are trying to declutter, which is why everything is so cheap. Carboot sales are almost always on Sundays and they’re pretty much everywhere, so with a little bit of research you’ll be able to find your local carboot sale in no time. You will definitely benefit from getting there early as its a first come first serve basis. Bring cash! As mentioned, most stall holders are not actual businesses, so its unlikely they will have a card machine. However this does mean you can haggle with sellers for lower prices if you think something is priced a bit high, but remember to stay respectful. Carboot sales are always fun because you can find the most unique and quirky pieces, as well as a lot of vintage gems from the oldies!

Swap events:

Clothes swapping is quite a new concept but it can be a really fun way to get rid of clothes you don’t wear and replace them with items you love. Although all swap events have different rules, the general consensus is that you bring in clothes that you don’t wear anymore (in good condition of course) and receive tokens which can be exchanged for other people’s items, or in some cases you can do a direct swap with the other person. Make sure that you only bring the amount of clothes that’s specified by the event organiser and only bring items that are in a wearable condition. As I said, clothes swapping is quite a new idea so keep an eye out for any in your local area. Or, create one of your own! Swap parties with friends are an easy and fun way to switch up your wardrobe and have a laugh with your friends.

Pop up events:

These type of events are popping up all across the country, just like Wings Vintage events for example. Many of these events include one or many vintage/ second hand retailers selling discounted items. These pop up events always have a really fun vibe, often with free drinks and food stalls and in great locations, like Brick Lane. This is a great place to find loads of creative small businesses and independent retailers come together. Some of my favourite pop up events holders are: Fifteen Collective Wings Vintage

Editor: Lauren Shivmangal

Illustrator: Lauren Shivmangal

Writer: Lauren Shivmangal

Photographer: Jacob Cramp

With thanks to:

Megan Wing (Wings Vintage)

Roxy (FxckFastFashion

Terk (T£rK)

Jess Carey (ShitMadeByJess)

Models:

Marina Macura

Kitty Isaksen

Sophie Armitage

Cara Payne

Image credits: Page 13- images adapted from vintage Nike poster(s) 1898 page 14 - images adapted from @laurenrsibley Vinted 2023 page 16 - images adapted from https://instagram.com/ wingsvintage?igshid=MTIyMzRjYmRlZg== 2022/23 page 18 - images adapted from https://instagram.com/ fuckfastfashion_?igshid=MTIyMzRjYmRlZg== 2022/23