ALL ABOARD THE TRADER AWARDS!
W
hen a trader starts selling
vintage, it is usually without a
thank you. Fair-goers take it for
granted that there will be a plethora
of gorgeous items to choose from,
but rarely give a thought to the
choosing, sorting and pricing that
goes into making Judy’s events so
affordable. With this in mind, the
Trader Awards were born,
celebrating the best stallholders at
the flagship Spitalfields events. You
responded to Judy’s kindness by
voting in your droves, so we thought
it only fair to get to know some of
your winners a little better...
THe People’s cHOICE
Award: AUNTIE
AVIATOR EYEWEAR
Where did your love of vintage first
come from?
AA:There wasn’t really a vintage
scene that I was aware of when I
was younger. The high street was
really boring at the time: Next was
as good as it got. I spent a lot of my
time hunting for clothes in charity
shops - I still can’t resist them though they are not as good as they
used to be.
6
The Digital Thumbs Up
Award - Rebecca Jade
Vintage
What made you decide to stock
eyewear exclusively?
It was a combination of reasons. I’d
always wanted to have a stall
selling found items, but never got
round to it. Many years ago I had
tried to have laser eye surgery, but
my eyes weren’t suitable, thank god,
and so I had decided if I couldn’t
have 20/20 vision, I was going to
have interesting glasses. A few
years passed and I wasn’t really
enjoying my work and I was looking
for something different to do. One
day I went to buy a pair of frames
and I had so much fun choosing
them, I decided right then that I
wanted to sell glasses. I just felt a
connection with it. I love vintage
glasses because they are so well
designed and made. Each pair has
a story to tell.
What did it mean to you to win the
overall award?
I was, and still am, chuffed to bits. I
really wasn’t expecting it; there are
so many fantastic vintage traders at
Spitalfields. The fact that I won The
People’s Choice especially means a
lot. I do work hard at old fashioned
customer service and I love to see
people wearing my frames. Its so
nice to be told what your doing is
appreciated.
Why do you think vintage wear
has seen such a resurgence in the
younger generation?
Young people need to express
themselves and their individuality.
That’s hard to do when all the shops
look the same everywhere you go.
Vintage is not just about owning
quality individual pieces - it’s about
selecting them and finding just the
right thing, as it if was made just for
you. I love the fact that you have to
work at it, but when it works, it’s like
you’ve struck gold. And it’s ethically
sound.
If you could be transported back to
any vintage era, what era would you
pick and why?
I’m a 60s girl. It seems so
glamourous and fun at the same
time. My parents came here then
from India, I love looking at their old
photos. The swinging 60s of London
with a Bollywood twist. Brilliant.
What has been your own best vintage buy?
I bought one of those 60s orange
rocket lamps in a charity shop for £5
about 15 years ago. I use it
everyday. Result!
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What first got you into vintage?
I don’t really know what got me into
vintage specifically, but I remember
watching the BBC TV series House
of Elliott with my mum when I was
young which is set in a 1920s fashion
house, and my grandmother sold
antiques. My dad now has a house
full of various collectables so I guess
it stems from an early appreciation of
lovely things!
What has been your best ever
vintage buy?
My best ever vintage buy was
definitely an original 1920s pink
beaded flapper dress. It was stunning and unusual to find one in a
colour other than black. I had to sell
it on though as it need to be properly
looked after and stored, so it went to
a lady who restores beaded dresses.
unique,so no-one else is going to be
wearing it either. I love the process
of rummaging through rails and rails
of crazy random vintage clothing!
People are a lot more environmentally conscious now as well and buying
second hand and recycling clothing
is a good way to contribute to that.
How did it feel to win a Judy’s
award?
I was really pleased to win the
award. I try to make an effort with my
stall
set-up so it was really great for
someone else to recognise that. The
judges were really complimentary
and they really liked my branding.
What tips do you have for people
looking to buy their first vintage
item?
I love early vintage from the 1920s to
1960s, but its becoming more scarce
and more expensive to buy and
therefore sell, so I tend to t Z