Why buying vintage clothes is ’The New Luxury’Contributed by fashion photographer Lenka lenkalife.com
I’ve asked Mathew Cohen, the owner of the MHC Vintage on 555 Parliament Street, to dress me in 3 different outfits for 3 different occasions. Each look consists of vintage clothing, accessories and footwear that we picked together and viola!
If you live in Cabbagetown you must have noticed MHC Vintage’s window display. Its cool and creative window stops anyone in their tracks.
I asked Matt how he plans these:
“As for planning the shop window, honestly, its pretty organic. It could be a pair of shoes, a t-shirt or the weather. It really just depends on what is happening that day. I like to try to display my own personal style coupled with the creative vibe of the shop.‘
How did you first get into vintage clothing?
‘When I was living in Paris working as a designer, I shopped vintage as a means of inspiration for pattern making. I was buying pieces more or less based on the silhouettes, fabrics and construction of the garment. These elements I used as a reference for creating modern pieces whether it was for myself or for the people I was working with. The weekly trips to the Paris Flea market fuelled my passion for vintage. I became friendly with Parisian vendors and began to accumulate more and more pieces which ultimately left me no alternative than to open a shop in the market, since I was already selling pieces and styling my friends in vintage from my Paris apartment, it didn’t seem like a far stretch, and it worked.‘
What are the big changes in how vintage works today compared to when you started?
‘I think the biggest change in Vintage is the demand. It has become very popular in the last few years. There are a lot more individuals selling it, and it has become quite difficult to access good pieces at affordable prices because everyone is essentially looking for the same thing. I also think now what one person deems as Vintage is not exactly what another does. The age group of the buyers has changed so it’s extremely important to be relevant before the trend occurs. For example right now 90’s and 2000’s is fashionable. One needs to anticipate and stay ahead of the trend. You are buying on instinct and good design.‘
