Pop Up Vintage Fair in Islington from Islington Now on Vimeo
Video by Sarah Johnson
Chanel the chihuahua pops her head out of an oversized handbag and stares at the rails of patterned clothes surrounding her. Her owner, Anna Naniki, looks down with a fond smile and explains, “Chanel comes to all of the vintage fairs with me.”
Anna and Chanel have come from Camden town to visit Islington’s Pop Up Vintage Fair at the Assembly Hall, along with hordes of shoppers hoping to snap up some bargain buys. The fair takes place every couple of months in Islington, and provides an opportunity for vintage sellers from all over the UK to come and share their unique collections with north London’s eager crowds.
“Today I have something particular in mind because the weather’s changing”, says Anna, who used to be a fashion buyer. “I want to add some colour to my wardrobe—I’m looking for spring colours. The fair’s kind of a good way to arrange your wardrobe. I have favourite pieces from vintage fairs, they give character to a look.”
An Aladdin’s cave
Anna wanders past the Hotties’ Vintage Accessories stall, belonging to Foxy Coxy and Loula Cherry – AKA the Hostess Hotties. As well as organising cabaret and burlesque events, they own a jewellery stall, which sells a mixture of 50s, 60s, and 70s pieces. Foxy Coxy came to the fair last year, and has returned to sell more of her antique gems.
Her stall is one of the few that sells only jewellery. She explains: “We’re both plus-sized girls, and buying vintage clothes is difficult for us so we went into jewellery. We wear high street clothes and accessories with vintage items. Everyone loves buying sparkly things!”
The Assembly Hall has been transformed into an Aladdin’s cave of antiques. A girl in a khaki post-war dress sings jauntily into a microphone on stage, while couples sit at tables around her, ordering tea and scones.
Mad about hats
Across the room, at a hat stall, a gaggle of ladies giggle as they try on leopard print fascinators. Jane Fairhead, the stall owner who makes all the hats herself, explains: “I started when I was 21 and I’m now 50. I thought, a hat is basically two sides and a brim, so I just started. Even back then I was making them out of old fabrics and curtains.”
Jane now has a website, but sells most of her hats at vintage fairs. She says: “I came here to the last fair in January and there was much more interest in my stall. It has been a little bit quiet today, it’s just because the sun’s out. Normally I have lots of people trying stuff on. I don’t have as many giggling ladies trying hats on as I usually do.” She surveys her stall, and as if on cue, a brightly dressed girl comes up to try something on.
Rachel Snider, a theatre director, has travelled from Dalston in pursuit of an outfit to wear to her best friend’s wedding. She says: “I normally wear vintage so it seemed like a nice place to look for a dress. I haven’t found it yet but I have bought a nice 40s- style red dress which I can wear tomorrow.”
Rachel’s quilted, bold coat, and scarf tied round her head are drawing admiring gazes from around the room. She adds: “I buy all of my clothes at vintage markets, or Liberty.” The price difference is vast; a silk scarf from Liberty costs hundreds of pounds while a vintage find can cost as little as £3.
Most of the visitors mix up their vintage buys with high street purchases, or even designer pieces. Anna, who is examining a gold snake bracelet while Chanel sits quietly in her bag, says: “I’ve been going to vintage fairs for about three years, but I mainly shop at Harrods or Harvey Nichols. I like designer wear, and I like to mix them up.
“I bought this 70s necklace, which is Whiting & Davis, an American brand that specialise in the chainmail look. They’re about £200; I got this for less than £10. That’s the thing about vintage, you never know.”
