Cheshire Street, where the Beyond Retro flagship store is located, is just one block from Brick Lane. It's a quiet street lined with cozy boutiques and cafes. In fact, this street is also a hidden gem, dotted with famous vintage shops frequented by professionals.
LEVISONS
Levisons, with its classic facade, is a shop specializing in British vintage items. The store is stocked with clothing and accessories that tell a story, collected by owner Michael through his many years of experience and connections.
"We have a lot of unique products, so they're highly sought after by fashion and costume designers. We have a particularly wide selection of military and workwear, with a relatively large selection of items from the 1950s. Of course, we also have deadstock items."
The shop's most popular items are the sweaters and fisherman coats from "Traditional Guernsey." These simple pieces are perfect for modern styles. Around 30% of the store's inventory is women's, with classic shirts and dresses being sold. The hickory-striped dress was apparently originally worn as a nurse's dress.
"I like things that are a little unique and have a sense of history. I select all of my products myself. Before opening this shop, I had a stall at markets in Portobello and Camden. Seven years ago, a friend told me that a property had become available, so I decided to set up shop on this street. Brick Lane was still in its infancy at the time, but gradually the number of shops in the neighborhood began to increase. This has had a synergistic effect and the number of customers has increased, which is great."
【Levisons】
Address: 1 Cheshire Street, E2 6ED
URL: http://www.levisons.co.uk/
HOUSE OF VINTAGE
Founded in 2003, this shop has its main store in Toronto, Canada. After one of the owners moved to London, a branch opened here in 2010.
"We stock 30% men's and 70% women's items, mainly Canadian and American items from the 1920s to 1980s. We have a particularly wide selection of women's dresses. We stock everything from casual cotton dresses to gorgeous party dresses, some of which are affordable at around 25 pounds. Because of the location, we see a lot of tourists, and they often just drop in."
This was explained to us by Charlotte, the shop manager. On the day she was dressed in a vintage dress from 1950, exuding a classic and lovely presence.
They also carry a lot of deadstock, including niche items that will appeal to collectors, such as hairpins and underwear. In 2014, they also opened an appointment-only vintage bridal salon, also in East London. They stock dresses and accessories mainly from the 1940s, 50s, and 60s.
【House of Vintage】
Address: 4 Cheshire Street E2 6EH London
URL: http://www.houseofvintageuk.com/
Specstacular Opticians & Eyewear Co
This shop, with its eye-catching yellow exterior, specializes in vintage eyewear. Owner Keval repairs and customizes old frames himself, fitting them for a more modern look. He then inserts new lenses in the store after an eye exam.
"My parents are Indian, but I was born and raised in London. I've been in this business for 21 years now. I didn't study at school, but rather gained experience through work. I love vintage eyewear with its excellent design and quality, and I built a personal collection, mainly from Europe and America, before opening my own shop in 2014. Even world-famous fashion designers come here for inspiration. We also provide products for television, advertising, and film."
The extensive product lineup is so impressive it's like a museum. Although not for sale, Roman iron eye guards are also on display. Bestsellers at the shop are from the 1950s and 1960s. Many are valuable pieces and therefore priced accordingly, but they also carry sunglasses from the 1980s, starting at around £30. "Some of the cabinets are made of real gold or silver. Frames made from buffalo horn or discarded records are also unique. I love not only eyewear, but old things. I even sourced antiques for the interior and fixtures in the shop and designed them all myself." After the interview, Keval posed for a photo. He looked stylish as he casually wore his favorite modern peas made from buffalo horn.
【Spectacular Opticians & Eyewear Co.】
Address: 40 Cheshire Street E2 6EH London
URL: http://www.specstacular.london/
Visit vintage shops in East London! Walk down the exotic Brick Lane [Our Favorite LONDON vol.1]
Read about landscape design with London's young gardener brothers [Our Favorite LONDON vol.3]
London's delicious sweets scene. Lily Jones, creator of bespoke cakes [Our Favorite Londo vol.4]
LEVISONS
Levisons, with its classic facade, is a shop specializing in British vintage items. The store is stocked with clothing and accessories that tell a story, collected by owner Michael through his many years of experience and connections.
"We have a lot of unique products, so they're highly sought after by fashion and costume designers. We have a particularly wide selection of military and workwear, with a relatively large selection of items from the 1950s. Of course, we also have deadstock items."
The shop's most popular items are the sweaters and fisherman coats from "Traditional Guernsey." These simple pieces are perfect for modern styles. Around 30% of the store's inventory is women's, with classic shirts and dresses being sold. The hickory-striped dress was apparently originally worn as a nurse's dress.
"I like things that are a little unique and have a sense of history. I select all of my products myself. Before opening this shop, I had a stall at markets in Portobello and Camden. Seven years ago, a friend told me that a property had become available, so I decided to set up shop on this street. Brick Lane was still in its infancy at the time, but gradually the number of shops in the neighborhood began to increase. This has had a synergistic effect and the number of customers has increased, which is great."
【Levisons】
Address: 1 Cheshire Street, E2 6ED
URL: http://www.levisons.co.uk/
HOUSE OF VINTAGE
Founded in 2003, this shop has its main store in Toronto, Canada. After one of the owners moved to London, a branch opened here in 2010.
"We stock 30% men's and 70% women's items, mainly Canadian and American items from the 1920s to 1980s. We have a particularly wide selection of women's dresses. We stock everything from casual cotton dresses to gorgeous party dresses, some of which are affordable at around 25 pounds. Because of the location, we see a lot of tourists, and they often just drop in."
This was explained to us by Charlotte, the shop manager. On the day she was dressed in a vintage dress from 1950, exuding a classic and lovely presence.
They also carry a lot of deadstock, including niche items that will appeal to collectors, such as hairpins and underwear. In 2014, they also opened an appointment-only vintage bridal salon, also in East London. They stock dresses and accessories mainly from the 1940s, 50s, and 60s.
【House of Vintage】
Address: 4 Cheshire Street E2 6EH London
URL: http://www.houseofvintageuk.com/
Specstacular Opticians & Eyewear Co
This shop, with its eye-catching yellow exterior, specializes in vintage eyewear. Owner Keval repairs and customizes old frames himself, fitting them for a more modern look. He then inserts new lenses in the store after an eye exam.
"My parents are Indian, but I was born and raised in London. I've been in this business for 21 years now. I didn't study at school, but rather gained experience through work. I love vintage eyewear with its excellent design and quality, and I built a personal collection, mainly from Europe and America, before opening my own shop in 2014. Even world-famous fashion designers come here for inspiration. We also provide products for television, advertising, and film."
The extensive product lineup is so impressive it's like a museum. Although not for sale, Roman iron eye guards are also on display. Bestsellers at the shop are from the 1950s and 1960s. Many are valuable pieces and therefore priced accordingly, but they also carry sunglasses from the 1980s, starting at around £30. "Some of the cabinets are made of real gold or silver. Frames made from buffalo horn or discarded records are also unique. I love not only eyewear, but old things. I even sourced antiques for the interior and fixtures in the shop and designed them all myself." After the interview, Keval posed for a photo. He looked stylish as he casually wore his favorite modern peas made from buffalo horn.
【Spectacular Opticians & Eyewear Co.】
Address: 40 Cheshire Street E2 6EH London
URL: http://www.specstacular.london/
Visit vintage shops in East London! Walk down the exotic Brick Lane [Our Favorite LONDON vol.1]
Read about landscape design with London's young gardener brothers [Our Favorite LONDON vol.3]
London's delicious sweets scene. Lily Jones, creator of bespoke cakes [Our Favorite Londo vol.4]
