Vintage will be a thing of the past

Whilst at Portobello on Saturday, I got talking to a group of young gals from the local area. They were not the usual street savy kids from the Ladbroke Grove end of the manor, they were from the more polite end of the market where the media gurus and celebrities hang out. In passing, I asked one of these young filles where she had purchased her lovely dress.... Well, you can imagine my horror when she piped up with 'It was a bargain in Primark! (the chilling music from pyscho floods through my head). Why? no? stop?

The future of vintage looks grim. There is only a certain amount of times that retro clothing can be worn, resold and worn again before it falls apart. Charity shops and car boot fayres will be full of cheap tacky mass produced rubbish, and rip off designer bags that are flooding the market. Surely, it would be much more satisfying to save up for nicer pieces. When you do eventually buy them you will appreciate them more and quality will again reign.
Recycle what you already own. Do not throw it away. If you do own lower quality items, redesign them in to something original and special. You will treasure it longer and save some cash. Never use your credit card to buy clothes. They do not increase in value and you end up paying back a fotune for something you may only wear a few times. If you can not afford it. Do not buy it. God Save the Green.

what happened to quality not quantity?

If you have ever been to a jumble sale, where ladies of a seasoned age elbow you out the way to nab a tablecloth or pillow case, you will understand my pure fear when my niece said "let's go to Harrow Primark". Clothes were thrown all over the floor in a tangled mess. Grabbing and shoving was reminiscent of scenes from the news of aid workers delivering food to starving nations. What is it all about?
We have become a nation of 'spoilt for choice' consumers. And Ironically, in this throw away (even if we have not worn it) society, we are desperate to strike up a relationship with the past and tirelessly search for vintage and antique items to fill our homes and worlds.
In the past few weeks I have spoken to furniture restorers and designers on just this subject. The main culprits in my rant are mass producing companies.
I can understand the need to buy inexpensive items as times are hard for most of us, but, where is the quality? With the exception of those pretentious furniture shops all over London that sell retro furniture for ridiculously over priced amounts, you can get really strong, hard wearing secondhand furniture for much cheaper than their modern, flimsy counterparts. The backs do not fall off and they don't wobble.
I bought a fabulous 1920's wardrobe for £20 at nine lives furniture shop in Rickmansworth. Car boot fairs are great and charity shops that specialize in furniture are also good for a bargain.

But I digress. Clothing is getting too cheap and readily available, sounds like a drug! Well it is.
In an article last year Vivienne Westwood spoke about the need to stop buying clothes and give fashion a chance to metaphorically collect it self. She is absolutely right. Too much choice is given and therefore we loose the essence of style and clarity. Diluted outfits that have trickled down from the high end fashion houses end up in Tescos? Why would you want to buy cashmere with your carrots?