Five of the best vintage shops for that retro look in Hong Kong – fashions, shoes, bags and watches at a fraction of the original price

Hong Kong is a city of gleaming designer stores and luxury shopping malls filled with the latest Gucci, Armani or Prada outfits.

In 2017 a study by independent global market research company TNS found Hongkongers spend an average of HK$10,000 (US$1,270) each year on clothing: HK$25 billion a year in total.

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But the rise of vintage shops suggests the city isn’t only splashing cash on shiny new items. Whether it is a vintage wedding dress, antique watch or luxury clothing brand, we have found five of the best places to go to get that authentically retro look.

Label Chic

French owner Heloise Mendes has run Label Chic since 2012, when it started as an appointment-only store at her home in Stanley. After running various pop-ups around the city, the pre-owned luxury clothing boutique settled in Central district last December, in a small, bright and simple store lined with racks of old designer items in as-good-as-new condition.

Mendes, who moved to Hong Kong over seven years ago, has a strong base of French clients, who donate second-hand clothes which she sells for 30 per cent to 40 per cent of the original price.

The racks are filled with the likes of Sandro, Miu Miu and Maje; Jimmy Choos were spotted on the floor and exclusive handbags and watches are dotted around.

3A, 33 Gough St, Central, tel: 6254 2010. Open Wed, Thurs, Fri, 11am to 6pm

Vintage Concept

Vintage Concept specialises in classic watches, gathered from dealers, collectors, previous owners and online traders. In its prime Central location, the store is lined with glass cabinets full of Rolex, Panerai, Cartier, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and more.

Established in 2012, they recently combined their Mong Kok venue and smaller shop on Lyndhurst Terrace, to relocate up the road into a larger space.

All of the watches are 100 per cent authentic, come with a three-year warranty and can also be bought on their website.

15 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, tel: 2522 2301. Open Mon to Sat, 12pm to 7.30pm

Oldies Leather

Having previously specialised in vintage leather jackets, Oldies Leather started to make its own items in 2012 when old jackets proved hard to source. It imports leather from New Zealand and zips from Switzerland for jackets that are made in Dongguanin southern China. The designs, based on a vintage style, are tailored to fit the more petite Asian figure, says director Brady Lau.

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The smell of real leather hits you upon entering the store in Causeway Bay, where Oldies has been based since it opened in 2006.

The small shop displays men’s and women’s jackets in various colours and styles, and its relatively limited selection gives an exclusive feel.

1/F, 28 Yiu Wa St, Causeway Bay, tel: 2575 8775

OnceStyle

Set up in 2013, OnceStyle has established itself as the place to go in Hong Kong to browse for vintage luxury shoes. Specialising in pieces from the 1980s and ’90s, it has shelves of shoes in all colours, sizes and brands, so you won’t be short of choice. The large vintage collection is donated, or bought, and the pieces have little wear and tear and are in good condition. A lot of customers come from China, says owner Tony.

1/F, 8 On Wo Lane, Central, tel: 2998 3660

Mrs Vintage

When she got married, Mrs Vintage wanted a classic wedding dress but had to fly from Hong Kong to America to find one. Her friends all wanted similar dresses, which led her to set up Mrs Vintage in 2012. The shop stocks dresses from the 1920s to the ’90s, with hose from the ’70s and ’80s being the most popular with Hong Kong girls.

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After shipping them in from America, Mrs Vintage hand washes the dresses and makes sure they are in good condition. Its dresses sell for between HK$2,000 and HK$4,000.

Vintage accessories, shoes and bags are also in stock to top up your outfit for the special day.

1/F, 229 Queen’s Rd West, Sai Ying Pun, tel: 9784 8124.