We had the pleasure of sitting down with the owners of our beloved vintage shop, Downtown Retro! Come with us as we learn all about their journey, inspo and challenges faced along the way.

What inspired you to start a vintage clothing store?

My background is in retail having started my career at Harrods after leaving school. After working at a few well-known stores, I started to grow tired of seeing the same clothes and brands on every high street and that’s where my love of vintage began. Finding that rare or unusual item became an obsession, and I bought vintage wherever I could find something unusual, rare or unique. Eventually, my collection grew to the point where I needed to start selling online, at vintage fairs and eventually in my shop where we now sell not just vintage but also new clothing, accessories and jewellery that fits in with the retro aesthetic.

Can you share a memorable story or experience related to your store?

We regularly receive comments from our lovely customers about how stepping foot in our store immediately sparks a feeling of nostalgia. Many of them say how a particular item reminds them of their childhood or a specific memory or time in their lives. Sometimes people get quite emotional. It’s a very rewarding experience for us to have provided our customers with that nostalgic connection.

When did you open your store, and what motivated you to choose this location?

We opened our current store in The Glades at the end of May 2024 and the response in the first 6 weeks has completely exceeded our expectations. Previously we were operating 2 stores in both Bromley and Sevenoaks but decided to consolidate those into one larger store in a better location. Since moving to our current position in The Glades our visibility has dramatically increased and the much larger space offers a more inviting and relaxing environment for our customers to come and have a good browse. Some of customers spend a considerable amount of time browsing through what some have called an Alladin’s cave of hidden gems. Our range is extensive and many people say they need to come back when they have more time.

How do you source the items you sell in your store?

I am constantly on the lookout for new and interesting pieces and over the years have built up many contacts and sources, whether it’s vintage, new, independent designers or otherwise. We’re excited to soon be stocking some new denim items from a super-talented independent designer from Bristol who repurposes pre-loved denim into amazing designs. Watch this space for details on that very soon!

What criteria do you use to select the pieces for your collections?

I look for uniqueness, quality and condition first. I also look for good value in the items I source as I believe in not over-charging for items just because they are vintage. We always endeavour to keep our prices affordable and reasonable and pass on good value to our customers.

Can you share a story about a particularly happy customer or a unique sale?

We frequently get returning customers coming into the shop telling us how they were stopped by someone and asked where they had got their dress etc from which we love to hear. This is one of the reasons I love doing what I do. A lot of our customers also recommend our store to their families and friends. Parents often say they’ll have to send their kids in and vice versa, younger customers also do the same in saying they’ll have to send their parents or grandparents in. We pride ourselves in catering for all generations, genders and ethnicities here at Downtown Retro.

How do you stay updated with the latest trends in vintage fashion?

Staying up to date with the latest trends is an absolute must in fashion, even in the vintage clothing market. There’s a lot of very stylish people in Bromley so our customers inspire us daily with their varied styles. This helps to us keep up to date with trends and inspires new ideas on what styles to source.

What are some of your biggest challenges in running a vintage clothing store?

There is a lot more competition in the vintage market these days, both online and in physical stores and markets. I have to trust my instincts to hand-pick particular items that suit the retro aesthetic of the store and remind myself that this is what makes it work.

How has the vintage clothing market changed since you started your business?

The vintage clothing market is currently experiencing a big resurgence due to things like sustainable fashion, nostalgia, social media influence, and changing consumer perceptions towards second-hand pre-loved goods. This is where we fit in perfectly.

What role do you think vintage fashion plays in today’s culture and sustainability efforts?

Giving consumers the option to choose vintage fashion over disposable fast fashion brands is critical in today’s sustainability-driven culture. More and more people of all generations are opting to choose vintage and pre-loved over brand-new clothing. Whilst understandably for reasons of sustainability, it is also because people now recognise that a lot of clothing just isn’t made like it used to be. The superior craftsmanship and higher quality materials used in the past have shown that much vintage fashion was made to last a lifetime, unlike many of today’s disposable fashion.