A Day in Shoreditch: Determining the 5 Must-Visit Vintage Stores on Brick Lane
During my Summer 2023 study abroad in London experience, I had the unique opportunity to hear, learn, and visit professionals at advertising and journalism agencies such as WE Communications, Conde Nast, TCO London, and Wieden + Kennedy. When I wasn’t hearing about their fascinating career experiences and how they got into the positions they are in today, I was exploring the streets of London. Here is a blog piece I wrote on Medium, shared with you all here for your convenience.
Through investigative journalism, California-based fashion lover determines best vintage stores on Brick Lane
If you are a fashion lover turned first-time London visitor like me, then you know how overwhelming it is to vintage shop here. Whether you are looking for unique gifts, a special accessory for your wedding day, or a one-of-a-kind piece for your wardrobe, Brick Lane in Shoreditch is the best place to get started.
I visited Brick Lane in Shoreditch for a full afternoon of investigating and reporting on which of the several vintage shops are a must-visit. Five Brick Lane stores stood out for being easy to navigate, carrying trendy pieces, and being fundamental to upkeeping the chic vibe of the area.
Brick Lane Vintage — Perfect for Accessories
Price Point: £10 to £80
The first shop to capture my attention, after a short walk from the Shoreditch High Street overground station, was a corner store called Brick Lane Vintage. This shop stood out for its large storefront and displayed lines of clothing racks.
Brick Lane Vintage carried vintage athletic and casual wear with brands like Adidas, FILA and Burberry. Inside I found affordable accessories such as jewelry and purses and a variety of on-trend tops and bottoms. The assortment of merchandise was curated tastefully and best suited for Gen Z fashion.
From my observations, Brick Lane Vintage’s prices range from approximately £10 to £80. Most tops, whether they be for men or women, cost anywhere from £15 to £30. Bottoms cost roughly £40 and accessories between £5 to £20. I purchased earrings for as low as £8 and nearly bought a £10 handbag.
While the upstairs of Brick Lane Vintage carries its accessories and most athletic wear, be sure to go downstairs to find its sales sections and a large assortment of feminine tops and skirts.
Rokit (Edits) — Perfect for Dresses and Skirts
Price Point: £15 to £100
A two-minute walk south of Brick Lane Vintage led me to Rokit Edits. With a huge door display reading “Sustainable Vintage,” I had to see what the store had to offer.
Rokit Edits was a small branch store of the larger brand known as Rokit Vintage. While Rokit Vintage was next door and carried an assortment all garments from casual to formal, Edits was more tailored for feminine wear. Inside I found an assortment of skirts and dresses ranging from silk, cotton, mesh and more.
Edits was ultimately a haven for bright and trendy dresses and skirts. The price point of Rokit Edits ranged from £15 to £100 with accessories like sunglasses and earrings costing, on average, around £15. The most expensive item I saw was a pair of jeans for £100. A garment rack of flowy silk skirts caught my eye but I turned down the chance as each was £40.
Shop from Crisis — Perfect for Something Cheap
Price Point: £5 to £30
I asked the clerk of Rokit Edits where I might be able to find the cheaper store options in this area. While a bit taken aback by my question, she responded by saying that none of the vintage stores are inherently “cheap” but that Shop from Crisis, just a two-minute walk south of Edits, would have more affordable options.
Shop from Crisis is a chain of charity shops ran by the non-profit group working to end homelessness known as Crisis.
The Shop from Crisis store carried everyday and casual pieces with more commonly seen designs such as basic jeans, shirts and shoes. Inside I found scarves starting for as low as £3 and tops seeming to be about £5 to £10 on average. I recommend this shop to those looking for a few casual, everyday closet staples.
Here After — Perfect for Something Truly Vintage
Price Point: £10 to £160
On the quest for my fourth store option, I headed north of the first three shops. To my left I saw a pastel pink sign reading “Here After” and walked in. Immediately upon walking in, I found authentic-looking vintage pieces in every corner of the store. While each store I had visited before this also had secondhand garments, it was apparent that Here After had a more legitimate assortment. The styles you will find inside of Here After have a strong 1960s through 1980s feel with styles ranging from one-of-a-kind bohemian dresses to metallic bootcut pants.
The Here After store is the most expensive choice on this list with a price point ranging from £10 to £160. I found that accessories like earrings and sunglasses were affordable as they ranged from £10 to £20. Most dresses cost around £20 to £60 and most pants I saw were about £100.
Although this store is the most expensive, the signs around the store explained that the merchandise is deadstock and thus ensures you are buying into an authentic vintage experience. Here After is available on Depop, offering consumers from all parts of the world to shop its assortment.
Kin — Perfect for Something Fun
Price Point: £8 to £150
The last shop on this list is an eye-catching store I saw just south of Here After — known as Kin. Unlike the other stores, Kin’s display of clothing and accessories is bright, bold and upholds a Y2K vibe. This store is a great option for those looking for a colorful or wild accessory or garment that is not necessarily for everyday wear.
Kin is the perfect place to shop for festivals and nightlife accessories. At Kin, prices start at about £8 for jewelry working its way up to £150 for certain pants.