Our Top 8 Reasons to Buy Vintage

With so many places for us to be spending our hard earned cash, why should we choose to spend our money on vintage? Here's our top eight reasons why vintage trumps high street!


It’s Environmentally Friendly:

In an age where many of us live a fast paced life style and give in to the trend of even faster fashion, it’s important to take a step back and look at how our shopping choices can affect our planet. In an article by Lucy Siegle for Huffington Post, Siegle claims, “If we think of a hierarchy of ethical ways of dressing, vintage should be near the top.”

For example, one third of all denim products are manufactured in Xintang, China. It takes approximately 1,600 gallons of water to make a single pair of denim jeans, as well as a huge array of seriously harmful chemicals, dyes, and processes. Due to this huge scale production of denim in Xintang, 80% of its water is polluted. So, by shopping vintage you are choosing not only to brighten up your wardrobe with some seriously sick threads - you are also choosing to support a more sustainable way of shopping.





An example of the level of water pollution in Xintang. (Photo from www.greenpeace.com)


Everything You Find Is Utterly Unique:

When buying vintage not only are you consciously deciding to rebel against the fast fashion industry, you are also sure to find some absolute treasures. From those gorgeous gold buttons to that stunning scalloped collar, it’s all in the details ladies! So when choosing to buy vintage you can rest assured that you will never walk into a room to find someone wearing the same thing as you are.


Quality Over Quantity:

“Vintage” is a term coined for clothing that is twenty to eighty years old, and for the most part, clothing during these eras were produced on a much smaller scale. These were times when clothing was made to last, a time where people spent much more on small amounts of clothing. Nowadays clothing is inexpensive to produce and rarely inexpensive to own, so when buying vintage a shopper has the chance to experience truly well constructed garments at non-luxury brand prices. The quality of vintage clothing is truly unmatched by todays contemporary brands.

Our style icons Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen rocking some gorgeous vintage pieces. (Photo from www.pinterest.com)


 You’re Buying A Piece Of History:

One of the most exciting things about shopping vintage is often imagining the stories behind each unique piece you find. Unlike fast fashion brands where a garment is constructed, transported and shelved; vintage pieces have often seen life, good and bad, and manage to come out as beautiful as ever at the end of it. Whether it’s a varsity tee with a students nametag stitched into the neckline, or your mother claiming “I had so many of those shell jackets back in my day!” the stories are endless. Shopping vintage is buying history, art, and the stories of those who have come before us.


It Is A Completely Unique Shopping Experience:

If you’re already an experienced vintage shopper, you’ll know that shopping vintage is an experience unrivaled by any high street store. Whether it’s a vintage store, a flea market or an online seller- it’s all about the hunt! You never know what you’ll find when rummaging through rails and rails of stunning vintage pieces! And if you’re not particularly familiar with shopping vintage, we can say without hesitation that it is an extremely enjoyable experience full of fun and surprises.

Our gorgeous treasure trove in Galway.


You’re Often Supporting Small Businesses:

In such a trying economic environment, it’s time to consider where our hard earned cash is being spent. When you buy vintage not only are you getting an incomparable shopping experience, you are also more often than not supporting small business owners. It is hard to comprehend the blood, sweat and tears that go into creating a small business from the ground up, so why not support them, eh?

Nine Crows founders Emma Fraser & Dean McDaid (Photo from www.totallydublin.ie)


An Unparalleled Selection Of Stock:

Another amazing aspect to consider when buying vintage is the HUGE variety of stock that most vintage suppliers carry. Due to the diverse nature of most vintage stock, it is a shopping experience that can be enjoyable for any age. You are sure to find the perfect clobber for any occasion be it a festival, a wedding, after work drinks, or even a great gift for your granny!

Throwback to our mega cute 2016 festival look book.


The Vintage Community:

While this cannot be assumed of every vintage retailer, our experience has shown that the over all vibe and atmosphere of most vintage stores is relaxing, inviting and friendly. One of our favourite things about perusing vintage is the lovely people we meet along the way! Whether they’re professional retailers or a car boot salesman, you’re sure to be welcomed with a big friendly smile, followed by cute chats and excellent customer service.

A few members of the Nine Crows family.

Article by Kaitlyn Burke.