Bustling Brick Lane in East London is home to a huge number of shops and boutiques, including several vintage stores selling everything from retro gems to designer finds.
(Photo: Rokit)
With its quirky boutiques, treasure-filled markets and rails of retro fashion from every era, Brick Lane is a vintage lover’s paradise, Whether you’re hunting for a 1970s leather jacket, Y2K denim or designer labels at a fraction of the price you’d find if buying new, there’s quite simply no better place in the capital for shopping sustainably and stylishly. In this guide, we round up 5 of the best vintage shops that Brick Lane has to offer.
Rokit
After starting life back in 1986 as a little market stall in Camden selling old-school denim, Rokit has grown to become one of London’s top vintage spots. Its flagship store can be found slap bang in the middle of Brick Lane where it entices shoppers with its huge selection of classic leather jackets, faded band tees and plenty more. A treasure trove for anyone into second-hand style, it attracts everyone from local bargain-hunters to tourists to fashion-forward celebrities looking for an eye-catching throwback piece to add to their wardrobe.
101 Brick Lane
Hunky Dory
(Photo: Hunky Dory)
Set in a cosy, brick-lined space, Hunky Dory is the go-to spot for many of the capital’s fashionistas. The store is full to the brim with retro denim, silky vintage blouses and funky accessories that you’ll struggle to find anywhere else. The vibe is relaxed too, and the staff are widely praised for their warm, inviting customer service – not to mention an encyclopaedic knowledge of all things vintage. What’s more, everything on sale is carefully picked, so you know you’re getting quality that’ll last.
226 Brick Lane
Here After
Originally a stall at the Old Truman Brewery’s Vintage Market (see below), Here After’s success resulted in it opening its own self-contained bricks and mortar store at the top of Brick Lane, next to the area’s famous Beigel Shop. Founder Anna Farnham travels far and wide to track down rare items such as neon Moschino jeans, Penny Lane-style coats and Levi’s ‘Mom’ jeans. The atmosphere skews heavily towards ‘70s and ‘90s style, with standout prints, quality fabrics and clever tailoring tweaks among the offerings.
151 Brick Lane
Serotonin
(Photo: Serotonin)
One of the newer additions to Brick Lane’s vintage scene, Serotoni has certainly made its mark since its opening its doors. Boasting eye-catching neon pink walls, leopard print chairs and a punky Y2K edge, the store brims with brightly coloured vintage, from ‘80s Nike jackets to Burberry trenches and offbeat Dior or Gaultier pieces. The average price tag here is a bit steeper than other nearby spots, but you’re paying for rare, high-quality finds. There’s also a newly opened men’s store down the road.
194 Brick Lane
The Brick Lane Vintage Market
Nestled under the Old Truman Brewery, this vintage market is a veritable Brick Lane institution, tracing its roots back to the early 2000s when the area became a hotbed for creatives and collectors. Now featuring the UK’s biggest collection of indie vintage sellers all under one roof, it’s open seven days a week and home to over 50 stalls selling everything from 1920s feather capes and vintage bridal wear to 1990s festival gear, faux furs and old-school vinyl. Those in the know come early on weekends for the best picks before the crowds arrive.
85 Brick Lane
By Paul Joseph