BACK TO THE FUTURE

SECOND-HAND CLOTHING HAS HIT THE BIG TIME IN MALTA. DON’T BELIEVE ME? WELL, JUST ASK THE SWARMS OF SAVVY SHOPPERS WHO ARE TURNING UP TO THE NUMEROUS SUSTAINABLE FASHION EVENTS THAT HAVE HIT THE LOCAL SCENE!

From swap shops to pop-up stores, where budding businesses set up their selection of curated pre-loved pieces for flash appearances in happening mus ic venues, to open-air food streets and farmers markets.

Vintage clothing pop-up shops have been a method of commerce for Lady Ki tt Vintage’s stylish owner Rowena Farrugia since her first event in 2015. Rowena hand-picks well-chosen pieces of vintage clothing which are brought back from her dedicated buying trips all over Europe. As a bona fide specialist in vintage fashion, Lady Kitt has been keeping lovers of retro decked out in one-off pieces ever since.

Lady Kitt Vintage’s rails are bursting with a selection of singular garments that make a big impression. Rowena has a keen eye for sourcing unique pieces spanning from as far back as the 1920s. Floral fifties tea-dresses are juxtaposed with slick seventies leather jackets, and her eye-catching range of accessories - bold earrings and big-buckled belts - have her regulars coming back for more.

“I do recall that the first pop-ups were met with excitement, albeit from a smaller, niche group of people.” Rowena tells Il-Bizzilla. “Initially, it was the vintage obsessed who’d come by. The emphasis was on checking out funky vintage clothing. Over time the audience grew, and so did awareness about ethical shopping, and that group expanded to include thrifters, and anyone who wanted to embrace sustainable living - a much broader audience.”

Rowena’s brand has now grown to now stock a dedicated vintage section at Il-Lokal, a hub for locally produced art and giftware in Valletta’s Old Bakery Street, run by Karolina Roskowska, a fighting force in Malta’s sustainable design scene.

Fashion blogger and style icon Daniel Azzopardi is also in on the action, bringing his sartorial choices to the menswear market with his brand Golden Lion Vintage. Also sourced from the Maltese Islands and overseas, Golden Lion Vintage’s array of designer denim and select sportswear have made rare, Instagram-worthy drip available to all; both online and at pop-up markets.

Pop-ups have brought the fun and physicality back into the retail market. They’re a place to socialise and make new friends with common interests, whether it be standing out with one’s fashion choices, to those who’s main reason for shopping second-hand is for the environmentally sound impact that pre-loved garments promise. As opposed to the fast-fashion norm, pre-loved and vintage shoppers opt out of the fast-fashion industry, with its reliance on cheap labour and the use of synthetic fabrics. The latest generation of shoppers are changing the narrative, with many younger buyers with newfound spending power preferring planetconscious purchases. Gen Z especially, who grew up with a strong climate-change rhetoric, are making a point with their buck.

A growing demographic of fashion lovers are choosing to frequent charity shops, church bazaars and flea markets for pocket-friendly treasures. The hunt for a frugal find is on at every Sundays Birgu hipster-approved car boot sale, and Sliema’s Paws For A Cause charity shop - where proceeds go towards animals in need. These spots have become somewhat of an open secret amoungst connoisseurs.

For those holidaying or residing in Malta, the opportunity to snap up a one-off garment can be found at Big Thrift Energy in Żurrieq, Il-Lokal in Valletta, Msida’s Cherry Stone, Sliema’s Cathedral Design Store, and, also in Sliema, the newly opened vintage shop TaylorMaid Vintage, nestled between the many buzzing bars and restaurants on The Strand.

TaylorMaid Vintage’s owner Laura Taylor has taken the leap to create a groovy retail space for those wishing to incorporate vintage clothing into their attire. After primarily trading at pop-up shops and online, via her website and popular Instagram live sales, the decked-out flagship store is another huge step in the right direction for the fashion industry in Malta. By looking to the past for sartorial direction, we’re on to a sustainably stylish future!

Soap Caf

Experience Malta through your senses! Take with you a collection of handcrafted natural soaps and well-being products which encapsules Malta's nature and culture. Made with the finest local ingredients perfect for gifting or as a souvenir of your trip to the Maltese islands.

Opening times:

Monday to Friday 10am-2pm / 3pm- 6pm Saturday from 10am-2pm

Or visit the website SoapCafeMalta.com and have it delivered.

Follow on Instagram and Facebook - SoapCafeMalta

WORDS IL-BIZZILLA

WORDS MATTHEW CAMILLERI