5 Benefits of Vintage Clothing

Nov. 28, 2023

Hi there. You may have heard others talking about vintage clothing and that got you interested in the topic. Or you are already a proud owner of a couple of vintage pieces and would like to know more about the benefits of shopping pre-loved items of clothing.

In case you already are a vintage clothing enthusiast, then please drop us a line to let us know if you agree with our list or if you think we missed something important. We’ll be more than happy to add it.

Regardless of what category you fit in, we thank you for being here and for reading this. Now let’s go directly to listing why you should buy vintage clothing.

Vintage clothes have great quality

’They don’t make them like they used to.’ We’re pretty sure you heard that at least once before and know what? – when it comes to vintage clothes it’s true in most of the cases. Back in the day, the percentage of clothes made by hand was much higher than nowadays. Plus, the materials were of much higher quality themsleves: 100% cotton denim pieces, real leather, virgin wool and the list can go on.

Vintage clothes are unique

By that, of course, we mean that it’s highly unlikely you’ll see the same vintage piece on somebody else – and if you do, that means you’ve met another lover of rare vintage clothes. Which is great! Seriously now, even in the 90s they made batches of the same item of clothing 10% the size of what the fast fashion industry is making today. So an item of vintage clothing is much rarer than an item made today by a fast-fashion brand.

Vintage clothes save the Earth

Today’s fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters in the world and the clothes they produce – most of them of a low quality – have a short life so will end up likely in a landfill polluting again. When you buy vintage clothes, not only do you get a cool piece of clothing that will be with you for years, but you also contribute to Earth’s wellbeing by helping reduce the carbon footprint.

Vintage clothes are cost-effective

You may disagree with at first, but bear with us a bit more. For the sake of comparing apples with apples, we are putting against each other items of comparable quality and craftsmanship. Take a hand-made pair of branded Japanese denim trousers. If you were to purchase that brand new today, you would have to pay a hefty price of at least EUR 450. On our website, you can get a vintage pair from the same brand for a fraction of that amount – around 100 EUR. That may sound like a lot, but reality is you’ll end up with a pair of jeans that lasts for years and years.

If we take the comparison further and, instead of choosing a new pair of the same quality and from the same reputable brand, we pick jeans from a fast-fashion brand – you end up paying half of what you’d pay for our pair but get a much lower quality item with a shorter product life.

Vintage clothes tell stories

That’s a fact. Pick Germany’s 1990 World Cup shirt. Worn by football legends such Brehme, Matthaus or Voeller against football legends like Maradona, Lineker or Gascoigne. Or take Jordan’s 1996-97 Bulls jersey – synonymous with the Flu Game, Chicago's 5th NBA title, and basketball history all in all. Just two examples that vintage clothes can be both show-stoppers and conversation-starters. Win-win.

It’s no secret that fast fashion has overtaken the fashion industry over the last decade. With trends constantly changing, the demand for new, mainstream pieces has skyrocketed, resulting in record-breaking material production and waste that takes an irreversible toll on the environment and garment workers.

Fortunately, there’s been a widespread rise in ethical consciousness to combat mass production. Ethical consumers are looking for ways to sidestep the fast fashion phenomenon and opt for more sustainable alternatives. One of the many solutions? Vintage fashion.

Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of vintage fashion and how it can positively impact your closet, the industry, and the planet.

What is vintage fashion?

Vintage clothing refers to pieces that were manufactured multiple decades ago. Vintage garments are also known to feature premium quality to withstand many years.

How old should clothing be to be considered vintage?

Opinions often differ on vintage qualifications; however, anything made over 25 years ago is fair game. So, your velour tracksuits from the early 2000s still have a ways to go before you can deem them vintage!

A few benefits of vintage fashion

It’s sustainable

One of the strongest benefits of investing in vintage clothing is its eco-friendly status. Recycling and reusing pre-loved pieces reduce carbon emissions and preserve water, energy, and other resources. Plus, it prevents more garments from winding up in landfills and reduces manual labor, where employees are subjected to unfair working conditions and minimal pay.

It allows a deeper engagement with history

Vintage clothing is an excellent way to honor history. Wearing these pieces enables you to feel more connected to the people of the past, granting you an opportunity to be a time traveler and weave your own stories.

The search for vintage clothing yields hundreds of fun finds, from a pair of ’70s sky-high platforms and an early 20th-century corset to ’30s high-waisted sailor pants and full-skirted tea dresses from the ’50s. You can pair these garments with more modern pieces in your collection, opening the door for endless styling possibilities that pay homage to other eras.

It ensures a unique style and improved quality

You don’t have to sacrifice style when shopping vintage. On the contrary, vintage pieces allow you to adopt a one-of-a-kind look, taking self-expression to a whole new level. Additionally, their quality is often far superior to today’s fast fashion, as they’re made to last.

Not to mention, vintage clothing is extremely rare, meaning your wardrobe will be unique and individual to you. With these pieces, you don’t have to worry about arriving somewhere in the same outfit as someone else!

If you’re considering hopping off the fast fashion bandwagon, investing in vintage pieces is a can’t-go-wrong alternative to practice fashion sustainability. Whether you’re buying pre-worn clothing or giving new vintage pieces a try, they’ll allow you to reduce your carbon footprint while making a unique statement nonetheless. So, give vintage pieces new life by adopting them to your own style — your closet and the environment will thank you for it!