Cardiff’s latest sartorial addition opened its doors at Womanby Street last month and the response from vintage shop lovers and trinket magpies a like has been exceptional.
Cardiff’s Fashion Quarter (CFQ), based in the derelict Castle cinema, welcomed Cardiffians on the 20th October with a day of entertainment and showcasing of vintage and independent clothing, art and collectables.
Housed inside a quirky urban painted defunct cinema the CFQ has given a permanent home to two floors worth of independent retailers who had formally traded at markets around the Cardiff’s city centre. The united Fashion sectors want to encourage the trend of vintage and boutique shopping to really take root in the city.
The outside of the building is adorned with amazing spray painted artwork by students at the Cardiff Universities and the inside is just as boho and bright with lots of variation on eclectic stores and quirky stands of vintage apparel, art work and thrift oddities.
Bursting with bric-a-brac, it seems like a car boot sale on vintage-steroids where haggling would be welcomed and you could happily sit and have a chat while perusing through their wares.
Amongst the thrift stores and vintage havens is Nelly’s Treasures a jumble of textile designs from fabricated bangles and button embellished hair slides to crochet baubles and screen printed cushions. At the CFQ opening, Nelly’s Treasures’ stall owner Helen Smith, was joined by the lovely ladies from Kitsch n Sync, doing inspired walkabout performances and two roller-skating dolls dressed up in Nelly’s Treasures’ garments.
Penny Lane Vintage Boutique has also ventured over from Morgan Arcade to join this vintage style emporium. They’ve got some fab Women’s and Men’s vintage clothes from all eras and extensive accessories to join their vast array of vintage costume jewellery.
A crafts person, hoarder, observer and beachcomber Pocket Pirate joins the mix. Appreciating subtle attention to detail and the sound of sharp sewing scissors she knits up a bag of purses, kindle covers, eco shoppers and presentation boxes in her fancy pirate affair.
Then there’s Rock-ola Reborn, occupying a cavernous unit underneath the balcony. The name is homage to owner Daisy Green’s parents’ vintage shop Rockola, open between ’84 and ’92 at the heart of Cardiff’s rave scene. And the Modern Alchemists stall, who have quite recently put on exhibitions at Milgi Warehouse, another emerging event showcasing local independent artists. Alongside The Big Knits yarn bombed store of novel and snug woollies.
Since its opening, during the inaugural Cardiff Fashion Week, and since, there has been a buzz of excitement with artists, students, fashionistas and thrifties gallore. CFQ is a place you want to stay for a while and spend your match-stick girl pennies and time leafing through rails and stalls of textiles and treats at the treasure trove that is Cardiff’s Fashion Quarter.
-ZB