Nottingham’s vibrant second-hand clothing scene is continuing to grow with the addition of two new stores.
People constantly say the high street is dead, and that online shopping is not just the future, but the now.
However, with the launch of two highly successful vintage fashion and charity stores in the past month, Nottingham’s second-hand clothing scene is very much here to stay on Nottingham’s high street.
The two new additions to Nottingham’s bustling vintage/charity scene are White Rose charity shop, launching their fifth store in Old Market Square and the brand-new launch of Relic X Hooked on the top floor of Nottingham’s Intu Victoria Centre.
Including their warehouse in Manchester’s vibrant Northern Quarter, the new White Rose addition brings their shop total to six.
White Rose supports the Aegis Trust, a non-government organisation which works to prevent genocides, mass atrocities and crimes against humanity worldwide.
Katie Bishop, store assistant at White Rose, said: “Charity shopping is kind of a triple threat because it’s affordable, better for the environment and it supports charity.”
Another recently opened store is Relic X Hooked, which is a collaboration of the two vintage clothing brands Relic and Hooked.
The store specialises in 80s, 90s and early 2000s sport and streetwear.
As well as being cheaper and more environmentally friendly than normal retail fashion, Relic X Hooked also pride themselves on having trendy items that have a lot of appeal.
Martha Hills, one of the three owners of the store said: “We opened four weeks ago, and we haven’t had many quiet days… I think it’s popular because of the one-off aspect, you’re often buying something unique.”
Both Martha and Katie talked about the stigma surrounding second-hand clothing.
Katie said: “People are realising that the stigma surrounding second-hand clothing is changing; if you present well, it doesn’t have to be a stuffy, hot room filled with old ladies.”
Martha added: “I think people are becoming more accepting of vintage/second-hand fashion.”
New apps like Depop, a ‘peer-to-peer social shopping app’, are seen to be tackling the negative stigma surrounding second-hand fashion.
Lydia Hargreaves, a fashion student from Leeds said: “Depop is definitely tackling the stigma surrounding second-hand fashion. However, it’s a bit conflicting as people buy clothes from fast fashion shops online, wear them once and then sell them on Depop.
“I think this is because of the whole cliche issue of people our age not wanting to be seen on social media in the same outfit twice.
“It’s a step forward but it means people are still ordering clothes and supporting unsustainable, unethical businesses.”
By Tiernan Phipps