Why Buy Vintage? 8 Reasons to Shop for Vintage Clothes

By Christopher McVinney
March 7th, 2009

Over the last few decades advances in technology, transportation and communication tools such as the internet and cell phones have been dramatically shrinking our global landscape. This profound change has been accompanied by an increased concentration of wealth and commercial power in a handful of major corporate distributors and retail giants throughout the world. Inevitably this global setting has affected the manufacturing, distribution, and materials of virtually all commercial goods, including modern fashions and clothing trends.

Model Ryan-Nicole pictured with vintage Trifari Necklace

Today’s clothes and accessories are usually mass produced by machines and often made of cheap, non-durable materials in questionably ethical, third-world work environments. Additionally, in this modern world, it sometimes seems everyone is carrying or wearing the same thing. How many times have you been in a crowded bus and heard someone else’s cell phone ring and thought it was your own, or gone to a house party and left with someone else’s bag, MP3 player, or even coat.

It is increasingly harder to hold a sense of one’s individuality in a world of mass produced materials. Even further frustrating may be that there seems to be no obvious way to boycott the major retailers when there don’t seem to be many alternatives. Enter the world of vintage shopping.

Shopping vintage offers an individually fulfilling, eco-friendly alternative to shopping at your local mall or retail shopping center. Below are 8 compelling reasons to purchase clothes from past eras at quality vintage stores rather than buying new.

1) Eco-Friendly: The only thing greener than buying vintage is not buying anything at all. Mass consumerism is one of the gravest issues facing our society today. When you buy a vintage item, you are recycling and reducing waste. Reclaiming a fashionable item that has been well-cared for lowers your wardrobe’s carbon footprint. Nothing is more in style right now than being good to the earth!

2) Socially Responsible: By purchasing from a large retailer, you may be helping them to employ 3rd world sweat shop laborers or engage in questionably ethical business practices. If you avoid these types of stores, you help abolish such abhorrent trends in our economy.

3) Better Quality: Vintage pieces are often a higher caliber than garments sold today. They tend to be made of first-rate, beautiful and durable fabrics and are generally hand-stitched with quality details. There was a lot more emphasis on clothes lasting longer in the past, since people did not purchase clothing as often as we do now. These clothes come from a time when “guaranteed for life” was a common promise offered by many larger clothing companies.

4) "One-of-a-Kind" Pieces: Vintage pieces are almost made-for-you originals. Chances are that nobody will have that rare piece you hand-picked from a dealer’s vintage collection. You’ll have that special feeling that the garment you are wearing is unique and has a wholly distinct history.

5) Worthwhile Investment – The great thing about purchasing a vintage item is that it is no longer being produced and will only become scarcer as time passes. As long as you keep the item in good shape, it will at least hold its value, and will usually greatly increase in value.

6) Lower Prices for Higher Value – Vintage pieces usually sell at a fraction of the cost that today’s tailors would charge for equivalent garments. This is due to the lower cost of materials in the past, current inflation and the fact that buying vintage eliminates the design, manufacturing and distribution overhead of a new garment.

7) Broad Range of Unique Styles – Shopping in a mall or department store offers consumers a limited range of styles. Even if the store carries a lot of different modern styles, it will not likely have many styles from previous years. Shopping vintage allows an individual to build a wardrobe collection that spans a broader range of looks and fashions. Avoid pigeon-holing yourself into only a few different looks and styles that modern stores may be pushing and shop vintage instead!

8) Support for Charities – Vintage stores often purchase clothes from charity organizations which in turn helps to support their cause. In addition, many vintage stores, such as Ryan-Nicole Vintage donate a percentage of profits to charity.

It is clear that shopping for vintage clothing is one of the best ways to build a stylish wardrobe. Not only do you get superior-made garments that are one-of-a-kind, but you are helping the planet and simultaneously donating to charitable causes.

So if you have already shopped vintage but had not thought of the benefits, consider now that not only is it fashionable but buying vintage is also socially responsible. If you are just considering looking for some cool vintage stuff to add to your closet - go for it! There are few things in the world more exciting than searching for a hidden treasure.