Shopping Spotlight: Era Vintage

Era Vintage owner Carly Walkington with two of the pieces on sale

Initially set up as an online store Era Vintage has already grown a lot quicker than owner Carly Walkington thought it ever could have. The website, along with the occasional fashion show (such as Britain’s Next Top Model 2009 summer fashion show), began to develop as an idea just last November. Since online trade started in February Era Vintage has grown into both an online and physical shopping experience into the past. Each piece sold through Era Vintage is a one off piece from the past. And these aren’t just charity shop cast offs (although some of them are, just more fashionable ones) the clothes usually come from L.A., antique dealers or private sales that Carly is aware of. From 1920s embellished tops to 1980s Diesel rings the shop is widely stocked given everything is one of a kind.

At the beginning the stock would come straight from Carly’s own wardrobe and continued from there. Now she searches for new stock online every couple of days. With funding from Sunderland council Carly made the move from online store to real store  just one month ago and can now be found on the top floor of Van Mildert (near the Independent club).

The success behind the store, and many other vintage stores, is that owning something vintage is owning something unusual - you can create your own style and be safe in the knowledge that nobody else is going to have the exact same piece as you - and it provides a talking point. Vintage is growing and this local gem of shop provides a slice of the action.

Era Vintage can be found on the second floor of Van Mildert. Visit the website at www.eravintage.co.uk. Era Vintage is involved in the upcoming Vintage Fair - updates regarding the date will be available on the Era Vintage website.