The Vintage Kilo lands on Bournemouth

Recycle, re-use, rummage, retro.

Raving about clothes from decades gone by might be something your grandma is guilty of, but vintage is now undoubtedly all the rage.
In a highly consumerism-driven society, a better way to benefit a budget, save the environment, and satisfy a craving for individuality in shopping and finding unique goods, is to go second-hand.
The month of February was host to The Vintage Kilo Sale’s first visit of the year to Bournemouth. Almost bursting out the walls of CityGate Church in Lansdowne, the racks of old but vibrant materials flooded the vast auditorium and kept keen deal-delvers busy for 7 hours of the day.

you’d think my wardrobe would be too full with musty old clothes by now but maybe I’m a bit addicted!

The probability of finding two of the same thing at an event like this is minute- which is the obvious appeal for the hoards of thrifters that combed through the rails of retro wear.
Even while celebrating it’s 10th year partnered with Glass Onion Vintage, the shoppers of the day at the Vintage Kilo Sale said they found ‘new’ [old] things on every aisle.
Daphne, 23, said she comes to the event every time it rolls around: “It always amazes me how I can find something I don’t already have, you’d think my wardrobe would be too full with musty old clothes by now but maybe I’m a bit addicted!”

MONEY MATTERS
The ‘budget’ is a key word in understanding the colossus appeal the event has in Bournemouth. Budget is a signifier of students worldwide, and with Bournemouth’s high density of students its no surprise they descended in their masses to shop around the hand-me-downs looking for a ‘steal’ of a price tag.
You could even argue that making a point of saving the environment is high on the agenda of the students and younger consumers and a clear pull factor of the Kilo Sale: Before the event took place information on how the day would work was published on social media, and in this, a note to bring your own bag was advised so to cut down on plastic waste; plastics being the buzzword of environmental activism currently. Of course, they had their own branded bags at the event anyway for the shoppers to use, but an encouragement of environmentally friendly practices was visible.
Even individuals who ‘worship the tag’ seemed satisfied with their hauls. Georgia, 21, says she likes named clothing but: “Digging hard enough can lead you to some great pieces.
“ I found a Ralph Lauren top that had been reworked. That’s a bargain for all under £15!”

On average, used products are generally 50% cheaper and the Vintage Kilo Sale was no disappointment when it came to totting up the total.
The premise of the pop-up is that for every kilo of clothing you acquire, its costs only £15.

But its not just cutting down on your bill at the event’s final weighing station that is important, buying vintage cuts down on manufacturing demands and keeps more items out of the landfill. Large amounts of man-made goods are thrown away so re-using as promoted by the Sale gives a longer life to items that could be detrimental to the planet otherwise. A lot of water also goes into making clothes. 1,800 gallons of water are needed to make one pair of jeans so the alternative posed by an event like the Vintage Kilo Sale of thrifting and buying second hand seems more attractive to most who made their way over to the event this month.

The Bournemouth Vintage Kilo sale is next back in April with themed goods ranging from the 70s to the 00s.