A Voyage of Vintage Discovery In Hull (2/3) By Jo Allison

(1/3), (2/3). (3/3).

Alfie, the cheeky chappie owner welcomes you into his oriental inspired market. The red blinds are like the night sky; the paper lanterns echo the Chinese theme and the shop is set out in separate sections to reflect small market stalls. Well, at least that was his vision anyway. Alfie's mini fashion empire started when he got back from Australia, where he had worked in a vintage shop, and decided to set his own up here in Hull. With no qualifications in either marketing or fashion, Alfie sources his clothes from Amsterdam, where he has copious contacts and frequents numerous rag mills, which are where all the vintage gems are found, I don't shop at charity shops, everything is true vintage, 60's, 70's.

However sourcing good vintage clobber is not as easy as it seems, you get what's there, and everything is scarce, contacts don't sell to new sellers. It seems, though, that Alfie does a good job; the shop is overflowing with knitted tank tops, beads, scarves, dresses and boots and bags. The dresses, once again caught my eye, particularly a fancy floral one, which ruined my professional demeanour, and I just had to buy.

Michelle, my photographing luvly also just had to do the model thing and try on numerous outfits, in numerous different poses.

Two shops, two key vintage pieces for my ever-expanding wardrobe. Chinese Laundry is an eclectic mix, with customers up to the age of 50 and is open to anyone with an independent sense of flair, to mix and match your own style. Just please take note, on no account will Alfie do your washing or ironing, just in case the name confused you somewhat.

Stop number three took me out of the centre of Hull, and into Deborah Fletcher's newly opened shop down Newland Avenue, Bed 14.

Stepping into this store totally took my breath away, the gorgeous gold lined blue floral print wallpaper contrasted against the art deco bright walls, the polished wooden floors, the glittering chandeliers, the luxurious round bed displaying the designer clothes (ranging from Lee, Fly, Sesun and Bill Tornade, which is also stocked in Selfridges) and beautiful dresses hanging off every foreseeable wall space.

Was I actually in Hull?

Bed 14 (Deb's name backwards and the street number) started off as an accident, I was working in the salon next door, and my partner had a gig in Barcelona Djing at a fashion show, and I realized that I was in the wrong business. So, Deborah returned to Hull on the Monday, and by the Thursday she had snapped the shop up. She has no shop experience but has always had a love of fashion, and always been different, I wanted to use that.

Continued ... Next Page (3/3)

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