Supporting local businesses should be a big part of the holiday’s every year, and why not support some of the best ones. Vintage shops and second-hand stores have some of the most unique and beautiful things, from furniture and clothes to stationary and nicknacks.
Everyone loves when a gift is something thoughtful, and they know that the person that gave it to them spent time looking and searching for the perfect present. When it comes to second hand and vintage stores, you could find some of the most unique pieces that are also likely to be one-of-a-kind.
Shopping vintage is also shopping local, most really great vintage stores are owned and operated by the owners themselves. This means the owner also is the person who looks for the things they sell, showing that these business people put a lot of effort into making their vintage shops unique.
If you’re from Toronto, then the best place to shop all vintage and second hand would be in Kensington Market. Kensington has vintage shops, cafes, local food markets and a lot of other small businesses.
If you’re looking for vintage clothing there are so many local stores, one of the best is Exile. They specialize in clothing from the 1800s to the 1990s. Shop there to find a great t-shirt from when your favourite band toured in the ’70s or a letterman jacket from the ’50s.
If you want to shop for furniture, the Bungalow in Kensington is great. They have authentic pieces for such good prices. People love collecting vintage glassware and Bungalows are the place to find them. They have full sets of glassware, silverware, and other kitchen utensils for the foodie in everyone.
If you’re shopping for that one friend who always loves being the bartender at the party, Cocktail Emporium has everything they need. From glassware to bar tools, and even garnishes, Cocktail Emporium has syrups and bitters of all types of flavours. They have unique glassware sets like the Rialto and Potion House collections. It is one of those places where you want everything.
Shopping local and vintage is something that may seem a bit different for some people, as a lot of people are used to going into big branded stores and buying the same expensive gifts every year.
This year especially it is super important to shop local and to even save a little bit of money. It shouldn’t be about the price tag on the item, it should be about the thought behind it and how much time and effort was spent in thinking about the perfect gift for that perfect someone.