Every year since 2015, So Last Century has brought vibrant vintage items to one place, bringing local communities together and letting vintage traders sell their objects.
They have an impressive number of items, with 50+ traders selling mid-century homeware, ceramics, art, prints, clothes, accessories, and more, with food trucks selling mouth-watering delicacies too.
They hold popular vintage fairs between 12 and 14 times a year in a myriad of places in London—specifically southeast London like Catford, Peckham, and Beckenham.
It is open to all, with families, couples, friends, and even dogs attending!
Alan Old, who has been the organiser since 2017, felt that the fair has a “relaxed atmosphere [and there is] always a good variety of things to see [with] good quality and affordable prices.”
The open floor plan, funky music, and dozens of exhibits created a welcoming ambiance and no shortage of things to look at.
One of Alan’s favourite things about hosting is that he can “look at all the displays” after organising it by himself.
From gorgeous gradients on glassware to vivid posters, these traders have masterfully curated their collections, and we as a community have the honour of viewing and buying rare, preloved goods.
Della and Claire—two traders here—initially had an interest in collecting items and saw there was a market for it, discovering that they enjoyed conversating with customers and selling their items with other likeminded individuals.
One of their favourite parts of the fair as a trader is “when someone else comes up and they love something that you’ve loved.”
Sharing something you value with someone who adores it as much as you do is a precious part of this fair that you cannot find with regular stores.
John, another trader, enjoys conversing with customers.
He says, “It’s a lovely feeling when you meet lots of different people and they’re interested in what you’ve got; everyone has a story to tell, and you get bits of their story.”
Maisie and Joel, who recently moved in nearby, love that “you never know what you’re going to walk away with; we’ve come looking for a bedside table, but we’ve bought a coat.”
So, it seems that not only are stories shared but added to.
This sensational event has brought joy into the hearts of not only the traders but the customers; there is a real sense of community, and it brings people together, young and old, to browse, socialise, and have fun!
Look out for the next So Last Century fair; who knows what you will find?
