With vintage and retro garments becoming increasingly popular, it’s no surprise that Birmingham offers an array of vintage shops to accomplish that perfect look. If you are an avid vintage enthusiast, are shopping on a budget, or simply enjoy browsing, this article will provide a summary of the best vintage shops around.
Thrifty Vintage Birmingham
Situated in the creative quarter of Birmingham, Thrifty Store Vintage is a new and exciting opening. This concept space in Digbeth, offers the cheapest vintage garms, trainers, homeware, records, VHS tapes, collectables and offerings from local independents. Aside from the fact that it’s hidden away and slightly further out of the main city, it’s definitely worth a visit for those of you who consider yourself vintage enthusiasts. In terms of layout, the clothes are presented inside a beautifully basic warehouse, adding to the vintage vibes, and are cleverly placed so as not to miss any hidden gems.
Despite vintage and second-hand shops being notoriously expensive, you will not be disappointed with the pricing at Thrifty Store. With a range of jackets from £10, and T-shirts from £5, you can grab a lot for very little. Perhaps the best thing about this place is the events which are held monthly. This includes kilo sales, clearance offers and many more.
However, the most impressive bargains may be attained during the £1 sales, where a section of the warehouse is dedicated to hundreds of garments. This enables you to pick up a variety of branded clothes (such as Adidas, Puma, Levi’s, Ralph Lauren etc.)- all for £1! To attend one of these events, you will have to purchase a ticket for around £5. Queues may be long so make sure you get there early to avoid disappointment because things are snatched up quickly! If you are interested in this store, you can follow them on @thriftystorebrum to keep up to date with their upcoming events and other bargains they have to offer.
Milk Street, Birmingham, B5 52R
Open every day- 12-5pm
COW Vintage
Operating in major cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham and Sheffield, COW Vintage offers second hand vintage renewal and re-worked garments fit for lovers of everything vintage. Although prices may vary, the clothes are often considerably cheaper than other popular vintage stores such as Urban Outfitters.
All clothes in the shop are completely unique, assuring that you will be the only one sporting it in Birmingham. COW caters to anyone’s tastes, offering everything from suede, leather, cotton, sequin, corduroy and branded items. Although there often isn’t a reduced rail visible, you can find bargains hidden within the shop which makes searching for an exclusive item that little bit more exciting. The décor resembles a warehouse, and there is often a DJ spinning cool vinyl’s inside the shop, which makes waiting for your mate in the changing room a pleasant experience. If you fancy taking a sneak peak at what they have to offer before making the trip in person, visit www.wearecow.com.
82-85 Digbeth, Birmingham B5 6DY
Open every day- 12-6pm
Credit Crunchers Vintage
Although it may not initially be the most aesthetically pleasing, Credit Crunchers Vintage is definitely worth a trip. It’s no frills décor and layout means that the clothes are ridiculously cheap, with suede jackets priced from £3. It may take slightly longer to find that perfect vintage item, but once you do you will not be disappointed. Truly living up to its name, you are able to nab items which would otherwise cost you £50+ for under £10. The shop includes a vast selection of wax jackets, suede coats, cargo pants, hats, and even fancy dress. For a genuinely authentic vintage experience, visit Credit Crunchers Vintage if you have some time to browse.
23 Moat Ln, Birmingham B5 5BB
Monday- 10am-5pm
Tuesday- 10am-5pm
Wednesday- Closed
Thursday- 10am-5pm
Friday- 10am-5pm
Saturday- 10am-5pm
Sunday- Closed
Vintage Hideaway Brum
With two shops situated in the Custard Factory and in Selly Oak, Vintage Hideaway is a small independent shop specialising in vintage, retro, collectibles, antiques and handmade items. The shop in Selly Oak is a perfect location for University of Birmingham students (5 minutes from campus). It truly is a hidden gem, offering a variety of clothes, shoes, plants, records and crockery.
There are often deals such as 25% off, and a rail of clothes and shoes outside the shop- all priced at £5. This quaint little shop is well worth a visit, since they stock some beautiful things. If you are interested in supporting this independent business, why not also check out some of the bargains on their eBay account. https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/vintagehideaway2014
579 Bristol Rd, Birmingham B29 6AF
Open every day 6am-6pm
Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Digbeth, B9 4AA
Open- 10-6pm every day
The Oasis- Alternative Fashion Store
An entirely unique entity in Birmingham, The Oasis contains something for everyone- no matter what your style! Arguably one of the biggest and most eclectic stores in central Birmingham, each section contains a separate shop, offering a huge variety from hippie chic, vintage renewal, tattoos, piercings and plenty more. With constant deals and sale rails, you are sure to pick up a bargain or two.
For those of you who love the convenience of commercial shopping centres, but looking for something more alternative, this is the place for you. Set up over 3 floors, you can channel your inner chameleon since each stall offers something completely different, yet equally as edgy.
110-114 Corporation Street, Birmingham B4 6SX, United Kingdom
0121 233 4488
http://theoasisfashionstore.co.uk
Open every day (apart from Wednesday): 10am-5:30pm
Harper and Lewis
Founded in Birmingham in 2012, Harper & Lewis is an independent clothing retailer which have since set up shops in Southampton and Reading. Placed inside the Bullring, Harper & Lewis offers a range of unique clothing, heritage labels and reasonably priced jewellery. Stating “We are not followers,” the collections displayed are nonconformist and truly authentic. If you are looking for unique but trendy fashion pieces, head to this shop in the Bullring- you will not be disappointed.
Open Monday-Saturday- 10am-8:30pm
Sunday- 11am-4pm
Birmingham Rag Market
The Rag Market opened in December 2000 and includes a diverse and vibrant new shopping centre- making the city one of the best in the UK for shopping. Inside the market exists a number of vintage shops and stalls selling beautiful fabrics for those of you who prefer to create your own designs. The Rag Market is placed in the city and is open all year round. This place is definitely worth a visit if you have a passion for designing and making your own fashion trends.
Open Tuesday-Saturday 9am-5pm
Top Banana Vintage
Situated in Kings Heath, Top Banana offers a brilliant selection of your favourite vintage brands (such as Vans and Converse) amongst many more- not to mention at very competitive prices! With it’s cool bright yellow exterior, it makes a bold statement, reflecting the clothes inside. The shop provides quality vintage clothes for both men and women which are mostly inspired by American fashion from the 60s and 70s. With 4.8/5 stars on Facebook, their ratings affirm that this is a shop worth a visit.
14 York Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7RZ, United Kingdom
0121 444 2749
https://www.facebook.com/TopBananaVintageClothing
Open Thursday – Saturday 10am-5:30 pm
Off The Scale Vintage
Off The Scale is a vintage shop based in Birmingham- but with a twist. They provide a mobile vintage bus which employs young people who have had experiences with their mental health. This unique concept aims to provide mental health awareness through a non-profit organisation. Run by a husband and wife in 2015, they combined their interests in vintage fashion shops and music promotion to help raise awareness of the stigmas surrounding depression. The beautiful vintage clothes are all sold by weight which is an excellent way to save some money on your purchases.
Alternatively, you can shop online at http://www.offthescalevintage.com/ or just browse their stunning collection. Keep your eyes peeled for this brilliant mobile vintage shop since the bus travels all over the West Midlands to University Campuses and other exciting events.
Article by Katie Ambler for Grapevine Birmingham