On Saturday 20th August, Swansea Business Improvement District are hosting an all-new vintage show to celebrate the variety of independent, sustainable traders in Swansea.
The event will take place from 10am to 4pm in the city centre, and will include a catwalk at Quadrant Central Square at 12pm hosted by local slow fashion activist, and Instagram influencer, Rachel Boo.
The vintage show includes a Retro and Vintage market with some of Swansea’s most popular vintage businesses. The fashion show will include styling sessions lead by Rachel, as she gives makeovers using pieces from local shops. There will also be a talk on the impact of fast fashion.
Andrew Douglas, Swansea BID Operations Manager said, “The way people shop is changing. Attitudes have shifted and people have a greater awareness of what goes into producing what they buy. We have so many fantastic independent businesses in Swansea, and what better way to show them off than to host a vintage show.”
Talking about the rise in popularity of preloved fashion, and the importance of rebuying, Rachel Boo said, “Preloved and vintage is set to at least treble in the next few years. If a dress from the 1970s was sold today in a vintage shop, that is a dress just over 50 years old. It hasn’t gone to a landfill somewhere, it’s being resold; you don’t get better circular economy.”
“A new pair of jeans takes up to 10,000 litres of water to produce, yet you can buy a preloved t-shirt and would have to wear it hundreds of times before it causes the same emissions as a new one takes to make. Let’s not forget the workers on less than a living wage to mass-produce fast fashion.”
Discussing her love for vintage and championing a change in shopping habits, local avid vintage shopper, Emily Davies said, “Swansea is often overlooked when it comes to vintage shopping. Since Covid there has been a shift in shopping habits across the UK. Swansea has become a hub of thrift stores, charity shops, kilo sales and swap shops, which I think is amazing!”
“We have a huge student population, and with this comes student shopping habits. As fashion trends lean towards slow living and second-hand shopping, so do younger consumer trends. Ebay sponsoring this year’s Love Island is a pivotal example of this. I believe when this younger generation of slow shoppers grows and feeds into new avenues, vintage shopping in Swansea will continue to grow. I am excited to see this evolution in shopping habits and how we can make the city more environmentally friendly.”
The event is free to attend, and visitors can expect stalls, vintage cars and more.
