places
Spotlight’s top 5 vintage markets to visit in london Spotlight reveals the best vintage markets to visit in London. From vintage fashion, to vinyl and accessories - these vintage markets have it all
1. Brick Lane UpMarket Situated in the heart of East London, Brick Lane is renowned for its eclectic flair and vintage fashion. The vintage market is set in the Old Truman Brewery, which was once considered one of London’s biggest breweries. UpMarket is open Thursday to Sunday, with free entry ensuring a constant influx of tourists, fashion lovers and vintage fans. The network of stalls sell a variety of pre loved and vintage goods from the 1920s, covering every decade through to the 1990s. Pop down to Brick Lane and find glamourous fur coats, vintage clothing, retro sunglasses, classic vinyl and decorative accessories.
fair. Entry to the fair costs a mere £4 and is currently held in Kensington Town Hall, due to ongoing refurbishments at Chelsea Old Town Hall. Time Out London labelled the vintage fair, “a staple on the vintage scene”. With over 60 exhibitors at each event selling antique items and vintage clothing, it is a vintage lover’s dream. 4. Hammersmith Town Hall Taking place every 4/5 weeks, Hammersmith Town Hall plays host to the acclaimed vintage fair. Established in 1999, Hammersmith’s vintage fair has become a Mecca for fashion designers, costumiers, models, trend spotters, vintage lover’s and fashion students. At £5 admission fee, the vintage fair attracts many people at the fore-front of fashion; whether big or small budgets. This fair sells an array of items including: handbags, lace, embroidery, shoes, hats, gowns, beaded dress, gloves, trimmings, fashion magazines, fur and more. With clothes spanning from 1800 to the 1980s, the cost is suprisngly more competitively priced than some of the more trendier shops. The founders of Hammersmith vintage fair also host some antique textiles, vintage costumes, tribal art and antiques fair.
2. Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair Hailed as ‘the most exquisite vintage fashion fair” by Vogue International. Clerkenwell has amassed a huge following due to its raving reviews and five star ratings. The vintage fair was born in 2009, to help recession which hit traders, by launching a series of ‘quality’ vintage fashion, accessory & textile events just 5 minutes from Angel. In the 9 years Clerkenwell vintage fair has been established, it has gone from strength to strength and gained a highly prestigious reputation with the international fashion scene to include: designers, stylists, fashion editors, celebrities & models alike. Clerkenwell’s Summer Fair is set to take place on 3rd June, with a £5 entry fee. If you’re a lover of 1950s clothing and chic 1930s beach pyjamas, this fair is a must visit.
5. East End Vintage Clothing Located in Mile End, East End Vintage Clothing is a fashion lovers dream for affordable vintage items. On weekends, the price of the second hands good is reduced to £10/£20 for an entire small or large bag. Originally run as a stall at Camden and Portobello Market, before opening its own warehouse. East End Vintage sells a diverse range of fashionable European and American vintage clothing from 1920s to 1990s, with some individual items selling for as little as £1.
3. Frock Me Fair Contributing Vogue editor, Lynne Yeager, described the vintage fashion fair as “breath taking in its scope and variety”. Established in 1997 by Mathew Adams, the Frock Me Fair is often described as London’s original vintage fashion
Photography and text by Gaby Smith
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