GIVEN the current cost of living, it is becoming increasingly hard to find the extra spends to justify new items of clothing.

But one option is often overlooked in the form of vintage and pre-loved items.

Whether it be Vintage Viola or Peggy McCools Antiques and Vintage, they both have clothing that combats the fast-fashion supporting the environment and your pockets at the same time.

And the latter, based in the former stables on Erwood Street and ran by Matt and Jamie-Lee McGinty – who are both from and now based in Padgate, will be hosting a vintage and pre-loved clothing fair to do exactly that.

“I hope we can encourage everybody but especially young people to go forward on the sustainability route rather than just buying something because all their friends have got it,” said Jamie-Lee.

“Fashion trends happen so fast that the quality isn’t as good as older items – we have some items in store than is 20, 30 years older and still in amazing condition because things were made to last then.

“Vintage does tend to give you the opportunity to buy better quality items at a lower cost because they are pre-loved and worn before.

“It’s great for the environment and saving money.

“The individual also gets to wear something different to everybody else as well.”

 

A look inside their shop on Erwood Street

A look inside their shop on Erwood Street

 

The 36-year-old is running the event on Saturday and Sunday, June 11 and 12 and there is limited space available for sellers.

Jamie-Lee believes pre-loved clothing is now so popular as it caters for everyone.

She continued: “There is something for absolutely everybody. You’re looking at things that you genuinely want to buy because you like them as an individual and not necessarily because you’ve been told that it’s what you should be wearing this week because it’s a fast-fashion trend.

“We know a lot of people sell vintage clothes online on eBay and depop but sometimes it is difficult to be able to offer people a space to come and feel it and see how it fits.

“It can be quite hard online to give a true reflection of the vintage item so we thought it would be great that people can come and try them on and see if it’s what they want to buy.

“By doing the market, we can invite more people hopefully to do the same thing.”

 

The couple hope it can be the first event of many

The couple hope it can be the first event of many

 

Jamie-Lee hopes it can be the start of something special and the first of many.

“It would be absolutely amazing if we can make this into a regular thing perhaps one a month to create a regular community in the Warrington shop,” she added.

“People can pass the word around that vintage clothing is available in Warrington and they don’t have to go into city centres elsewhere.

“I think we’re just at the start of something massive happening and if Warrington can be a part of it in any little way, we’re all for getting involved.”

For more details, visit https://www.facebook.com/peggymccools