Relliks: Demand modern Relliks
Our Support Your Local Trader campaign will highlight central and west London’s special markets and shops. The London Weekly News supports our community in a way which benefits everyone. So we are starting as we mean to go on, by backing the small businesses which give life to the area and earn a living for their owners – as well as adding a special flavour to life for its residents.
At first glance it appears that the High Street is dying and fast fashion is taking over, but in reality there is a growing trend towards making clothes sustainable.
Vintage is the future, and a store in Golborne Road, Kensal Town, is living proof.
Rellik is owned by Claire Stansfield, Steven Philip, and Fiona Stuart.
The trio met in the mid-1990s when they were all running stalls at the famous Portobello Market in Notting Hill.
Despite the stalls being successful, all of them wanted greater stability, a permanent base, and power over their business. And just like that, in December 1999, Rellik was born.
Since opening its doors, the shop has had an authentic, buzzing and vibrant atmosphere – its first day was given a gentle nudge through the fashion label Ghost having a sample sale round the corner.
Walking around the shop you can, essentially, find any piece, by any brand, from any decade. From flappers to funk, Westwood to Comme des Garçons, 1930s to 1990s.
Fiona said: “We are so lucky to have such regular and loyal customers return to us month by month, year by year, but vintage has changed.”
When Rellik opened in 1999, there were only a handful of vintage shops in London. And what made these new kids on the block different was that they were selling “more modern and youthful vintage –vintage with a modern twist”.
Fast forward 20 years and you would now struggle to not be a stone’s throw from one – particularly in the ‘trendier’ inner-city spots.
Why is this? Fiona said: “No longer are clothes considers used and old. Now they have a value and style that is treasured.
They will outlive us all.”
And yet, despite this gem housing a menagerie of beautiful items from bygone, and recent, decades, it too cannot ignore the rising tide of online retail.
The future is bright, but “online like the rest of the world” Fiona said.
Rellik
8 Golborne Gardens, W10 5NW
Call 020 8962 0089 or go to http://relliklondon.co.uk/
Call us on 03300 580 680 or email Ali Huseyin at ali@londonweeklynews.online if you run a business in west London.
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