You may be asking yourself "Why vintage? Who really cares about old stuff anyway?" Well, it turns out, quite a few people (there are 158 million Instagram posts with the #vintage), and for good reason. Let me tell you about why by answering some frequently asked questions.
Are Vintage Goods Better Quality?
Almost always. Have you ever noticed how heavy some old stuff is? Well, antique tables and chairs weren't fashioned out of solid wood just to make your life difficult. They were constructed with quality materials (i.e. oak), because they were built to last!
You are far less likely to inflict injuries on a desk from the 1920s for example than you would be on your modern-day IKEA workstation. The latter might be easier to move, but which is going to stand the test of time?
Here's another one: try taking apart an old mechanical clock that no longer works. What did you find inside?
More than likely you'll come across real moving parts that can be re-furbished, or swapped out for new ones. You may not be a clockmaker, but with a YouTube video or two for help—you just might be able to fix it yourself! One more thing...you'll never run out of batteries!
Does Shopping Vintage Help The Environment?
We're all familiar with the old adage, "Reduce, Re-use, Recycle", but that doesn't have to apply just to bottles and cans. When we take the triple R approach to other aspects of our lives, we can seriously cut down on waste, and curb our consumerism. Try reduce, re-use, re-vintage.
We live in a world that constantly screams "More! Now!", but if you're willing to wait patiently for the right old-fashioned item for your wardrobe, your bedroom, or your entertainment space, you could end up with something of a higher quality that may be even better suited to your needs than its modern equivalent. Plus, you get the privilege of giving that item a new life, and adding a chapter of your own story to a well-loved vintage piece.
Can Buying Vintage Stuff Save You Money?
Yes! By shopping vintage, you can save money. And I'm not talking pennies, but sometimes hundreds of dollars! Take for example what someone might pay for kitchen dishes; a low cost 4-place setting can run you $50 at the minimum, but it wouldn't be difficult to find an antique version of superior quality (and perhaps with more place settings) for less. You can even find genuine silverware sometimes for a price equal to a brand new stainless steel cutlery set. We're talking about real silver vs. steel! That's the power of buying vintage.
Final Thoughts
In general, I think because we live in an era where cheap goods that are used once and quickly discarded are abundantly available, we're beginning to assign increasing value to the things we don't throw away. This, accompanied by the above-mentioned benefits, helps make everything vintage seem more appealing.