Where To Buy Vintage Clothing - Cardiff Edition
Over the past decade, the vintage clothing industry has continued to boom, with predictions that the value of this market will almost double in size from 2022 to 2027. With the stark rise in sustainable shopping trends, vintage clothing only looks to be going from strength to strength, with no signs of slowing down.
Many cities across the UK are becoming mainstays for vintage clothing, with the high-street paradigm starting to shift. As many consumers have begun to turn their heads on fast fashion, vintage clothing shops have crept into the mainstream.
However, when it comes to vintage, many people may still be unsure of their options when shopping for pre-loved or second-hand clothes. With each city or town offering a unique set of options, it can be difficult to know where is best to start.
As one of the leading vintage clothing wholesalers in the UK, we have two decades of experience in the industry. We have dealt with some of the leading vintage clothing shops, as well as many locally owned establishments. This has given us a good perception of vintage clothing, in terms of trends and styles over the years.
To help get you started on your vintage clothes journey, we are going to offer guides for many major cities around the UK. We will highlight our top picks for each city, helping to uncover the best that each has to offer.
As we are located in Cardiff, our first guide will be on where to buy vintage clothing in Wales' capital. Uncovering the best vintage shops Cardiff has to offer, as well as a few more tips and tricks for sourcing vintage clothes.
Vintage Shops Cardiff - Which are the best to visit?
For any fan of vintage clothing, no trip to Cardiff would be complete without visiting the vintage boutiques, scattered around the city centre. Over the years Cardiff has done well to establish itself as one of the leading cities for vintage clothing, with a strong selection of vintage stores now at your disposal.
If you're not sure where to start or only have time to visit a few vintage stores, let us guide you on our top picks for the capital.
Flamingos Vintage
Capitol Shopping Centre, NSU 5, Cardiff, CF10 2HQ
Our first pick is located in the Capitol Shopping Centre at the bottom of Queen Street. Flamingos is a must-visit store for any vintage lover. The store is a treasure trove of vintage, with all of the items being handpicked and sourced in the USA.
For fans of kilo sales, you'll be in for a treat. Flamingos offer a kilo sale model on many products inside the store, creating a unique experience for buying vintage.
If you happen to be in the city centre of Cardiff, we recommend visiting Flamingos. Just be warned, it'll be hard to leave empty-handed!
Beyond Retro
20 The Hayes, St Davids Centre, Cardiff, CF10 1GA
One of the UK's leading vintage clothing suppliers graced the city with its presence in 2023. Beyond Retro offers a huge selection of vintage in the heart of the city centre, located on The Hayes, opposite the St David's Shopping Centre.
This gigantic storefront is the city's largest selection of vintage, so you'll be sure to find something upon each visit. Over two floors, you can expect to browse thousands of vintage products, from big-name brands to one-off finds.
If you're in Cardiff and are looking for one of the largest selections of vintage goods in the city, be sure to check out Beyond Retro.
Hobos Vintage Clothing
26 High Street Arcade, Cardiff, CF10 1BB
Cardiff's many arcades offer a wide range of unique and exciting independent shops. If you happen to find yourself in High Street Arcade, we certainly recommend you check out Hobos. This Cardiff institution opened its doors in 1994 and has been going strong ever since.
A favourite amongst students, Hobos offers a mixture of vintage categories at affordable prices. Don't be fooled by its modest size, across the two floors Hobo's manages to stock a wide range of vintage, with something for everyone. The ground floor typically focuses on more winter-based stock, whereas the upper floor offers clothing for the warmer months.
Regardless of the weather (let's face it, it's likely to be raining) one thing is for sure when visiting Hobos. You'll definitely find a vintage bargain.
Charity Shops Cardiff - which are the best to visit?
If looking to buy vintage clothing in Cardiff, it would be impossible not to mention charity shops. Charity shops are often one of the best options when looking to buy second-hand. Each charity shop will slightly vary, but you can expect to find a good deal eventually.
Despite charity shops selling "old clothes", that is not to say you cannot find quality items. They often can be a treasure trove for vintage gems, for a fraction of the price.
However, with high competition in cities, it can be hard to know which charity shops are the best to frequent.
Some quick tips for finding the best charity shops
In each city, including Cardiff, there will always be some charity shops that will become your favourite. Simply by visiting as many as you can, you will begin to get a taste of which ones you like and which ones to avoid.
Here are some of our top tips for finding your next favourite charity shop:
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Ask around in local forums such as Reddit or Quora for people's recommendations. You'll be surprised that many locals will be more than willing to offer advice.
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In general, heading to quieter areas of a city, where there is less footfall, can be a good idea. Often a charity shop in a quieter area of the city will be much less unpicked, versus those in the centre of the city. If you have access to a car, we recommend driving to these remote places, where there should be better options for finding premium second-hand clothing. In the instance of Cardiff, areas such as Cowbridge or Penarth are good examples.
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Build relationships with the staff in the charity shops. The staff will be much more likely to help you out if you develop a relationship with them. The longer you become accustomed to the staff, the more likely they will know your tastes and maybe hold onto specific items for you.
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In our experience, we typically have found more in the independent charity shops as opposed to the larger charities. The larger charity shops also typically charge more, so you are less likely to find a vintage item for next to nothing. In the smaller independent charity shops, expect more opportunities to find special items at discount prices.
Kilo Sales Cardiff - Which are the best to visit?
Most cities in the UK have welcomed vintage kilo sales in recent years. Each year there are hundreds of events across the UK dedicated to the kilo sale model.
Due to their unique model and cheap prices, kilo sales have become a staple of the vintage scene, with no signs of slowing down.
In Cardiff, it seems kilo sales are just as popular as ever, with many events taking place throughout the year. Many national companies pass through the capital once every few months, whilst smaller companies will sporadically hold events.
At Vintage Wholesale Store we are proud to hold the largest kilo sale event in Cardiff, once a month. Our vintage kilo sales take place at our HQ, just off Newport Road.
To attend one of our events, or are looking for more information regarding kilo sales, please see here.
Vintage Clothing Wholesalers
Last but certainly not least, vintage clothing wholesalers offer a great opportunity to buy vintage clothing, in larger quantities. Due to wholesale pricing, you can purchase items for much cheaper than you would find in a store, which can then be sold for a profit.
The vintage wholesale model is perfect for those looking to start a vintage clothing business, as well as for businesses that are already established.
At Vintage Wholesale Store, we are the only vintage wholesaler in Cardiff, as well as one of the leading vintage suppliers in the UK, for over a decade.
We supply a full range of businesses, ranging from local independent stores to the leading retailers in the UK. Regardless of the size of your business, we guarantee we can offer something for everyone.
As a vintage wholesaler, we offer handpick appointments where you can personally pick each item of clothing you want. This ensures you are getting exactly what you want. To get booked in for a handpick appointment, please refer to our handpick section.
Alternatively, if you are looking to purchase vintage clothing online, please feel free to browse our full range of products. We are constantly uploading new products for our customers, so there is always something new to be found.
If you have any questions for us, please feel free to reach out. One of our team will be more than happy to accommodate you and answer any questions or queries.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our guide on buying vintage clothing in Cardiff. Keep your eyes out for the next edition, where we will be covering a different city. If you would like us to cover a specific topic, please let us know and we'll be happy to do so!
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- Where to find vintage clothing to resell?