By Brandon Chia,
Vintage fashion has taken the world by storm and tons of new stores have opened up in Japan, Korea, Europe and beyond. Likewise, it's also gaining traction right here on our sunny shores, saving us the hassle of flying abroad for guilt-free shopping. While the trend is hardly anything new, Singaporeans of all ages are jumping on the bandwagon as more unique pieces are popping up at reasonable prices. Below, we’ve located local vintage luxury and consignment stores worth keeping an eye on for that next big purchase.
HUNTSTREET
Originally founded in Indonesia as an online store, Huntstreet has expanded to Singapore with a stocked showroom of pre-loved fashion from the likes of Hermes, Alaia, Tiffany & Co. and more, gathered from across the region. Bougie mums and dads can also shop for their kids, be it for a pair of branded kicks or their first designer handbag.
A VINTAGE TALE
From vintage Yves Saint Laurent to Valentino, this technicoloured store, founded by Italian native Azzurra La Mantia, in the heart of Joo Chiat houses some avant-garde clothing, shoes, bags and jewellery sourced from Japan, Europe and the United States, mostly from the '50s to the '90s. The store also hosts occasional “Kilo” events where one kilogram of clothing costs only $10.
THE NEE VINTAGE
This three-storey Chinatown shophouse is a treasure trove of Gucci, Fendi and Prada bags galore, amongst other brands that will have you spoilt for choice. Aside from bags, The Nee Vintage Store makes for the perfect one-stop shop with clothing racks of Hermes and Issey Miyake, tables stacked with jewellery and watches, and a section dedicated to home and tableware.
UPTOWN
Opened just about a year ago, Uptown not only caters to vintage men's streetwear, it also happens to be a café too. With brands such as Louis Vuitton, Celine and Stüssy, boys need not sit on the sidelines while their partners shop to their hearts' content. Of course, fashion isn’t specific to gender, so gals can shop too or simply grab a bite and a cuppa.
MILIEU
Also focusing on menswear, Milieu is more than just your ordinary thrift store. The founding duo behind the shop – Alfred Bong and Leon Lim – are archive fashion fans who curate rare pieces from Helmut Lang, Yohji Yamamoto and Comme des Garcons that will surely pique any collector’s interest.
LOVEHOLIC
Want to get your hands on a Chanel bag? Loveholics is the place to go, with close to 100 options to choose from the beloved French label – some of which are brand-spanking new. The team only lists items on the website after going through two rounds of authentication by Entrupy and independent experts. The team also hosts regular "group buys" where they head to Europe and bring back specific items that you've been hunting for all your life.
STYLETRIBUTE
With daily drops, StyleTribute has an ever-growing collection of goodies, but it's the sales section that has our attention. Ranging anywhere from 10 to 70 per cent off on select items, shoppers can indulge themselves in Gucci, Valentino and many other brands going for almost half the estimated retail prices.