Shop-We-Like: Raw Vintage

Broadly speaking, our remit here at The Skinny is to keep you informed about your country’s natural resources, including the little local treasures you might have missed on your travels. On this basis, let us introduce you to Raw Vintage: quite possibly the only store you’ll ever need.

Not content with stocking an eclectic range of vintage clothing, imported from the U.S. and Europe, this little white coach-house in Glasgow’s south side offers a bunch of bonus features that take it well past the ordinary.

Owner Lisa Carr, a fashion design graduate, opened the store with a view to plug the holes, so to speak, in the vintage market. “I find it’s really difficult to wear vintage off the peg. Sizes have changed, and I just took it for granted that I could take things in or out and make them fit.” says Lisa. As such, Raw Vintage offers alterations, as well as alterations with a difference: “If you find something you love, and it can’t be altered to fit, we’ll trace fabric and copy it for you.”

And the bespoke doesn’t end there, as Raw Vintage also designs on spec from scratch, as well as replicating designs you might have torn out of magazines, or seen on screen. “Last year there was a real trend for the yellow dress Kate Hudson wore in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” says Lisa, “I can’t tell you how many times I watched that film!”

If this weren’t enough, Raw Vintage also supports Glasgow-based designers like Jennie Lof by stocking their collections, as well as a range of jewellery and accessories vintage and new. These designer looks, as well as Lisa’s designs and vintage pieces, will be showcased this month in Raw Vintage’s ‘Cirque de la Mode’ fashion show on 8 May, a noir carnival extravaganza complete with ringmaster.

Once you’ve checked out the couture, Raw Vintage is also helpfully hardwired to help you put it all together “Instead of putting all trousers together, and all tops, like other vintage stores, we build ‘stories’. We colour coordinate, and put pieces together to help you out,” she explains, “It’s great to go into a vintage store and trail, but people don’t always have the time.”

Whilst we’ve got an expert here, though, what would Lisa’s top tips be for buying vintage? “Look for stuff that’s handmade. It’s the stuff that has the biggest hems, and so it’s the easiest to alter. Also, take your high street buys with you, and try teaming things together – think outside the box. And be prepared to trail,” she grins, “unless you come to Raw Vintage, and then you don’t have to.”