Blast from the past: The growth of vintage fashion

The word vintage takes on many forms. Initially being associated with old, unwanted items, it has been coined into an 'edgy' trend. Vintage fashion is the new backdrop for sustainable fashion, which has proved to be vital in our attempts to counteract environmental concerns. However, it would be wrong to argue that sustainability is at the heart of vintage fashion.

Although some people think vintage fashion is more sustainable, for many it allows them to look forward through the window of the past and nostalgia plays a pivotal role in its popularity.

Past eras are threaded through the seams of vintage clothing, which is why it is no wonder that 90.2% of Brits are most attracted to it because of how they can style the items. It allows people to add individual touches to their wardrobe, rather than carbon copies of fast fashion trends. Today we echo the ‘waste not, want not’ attitude of post-war Britain. Now, nearly 75% of us buy our vintage pieces from bougie fashion brands or charity shops - which is the progress we want to see.

Celebrities who adorn the red carpet are now choosing to upcycle old garments, including Jennifer Aniston in her vintage Christian Dior dress and Zendaya wearing a garment from the year she was born. Vintage fashion is not only an ecological investment, but part of the contemporary a-list style.

The reality is that all fashion is recycled. Every designer who cultivates a trend has taken an element of it from elsewhere. However, we cannot blame them. Why not incorporate different elements of fashion archives into your own style? From the swing skirts and crop tops of the 50s to the baggy jumpers and skinny jeans of the 90s, modern fashion weaves elements of vintage and contemporary pieces together and this is why fashion is going from strength to strength.

Edited by Katie Wheatley