As the Pittsburgh vintage and secondhand scene grows with the demand for eco-friendly clothing, so does the variety of styles it serves. No longer are the days where local vintage fashion is confined to a 1950s swing dress or an eccentric print. Sustainable, modern minimalist clothing is now offered with the same attention.
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“Don’t get me wrong, I love true vintage. But vintage is more than the (flower) power of my ‘70s dress collection,” said Michelle Montana, creative director and owner of Basil, a curated online boutique and pop-up destination offering reconstructed and vintage/secondhand clothing and homewares. “It’s now more about secondhand, anti-fast fashion, and achieving the look of what is trending from clothes that already exist.”
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Vintage is more than ‘70s style bell-bottoms
Simplicity is key to a modern minimalist style. “Classic lines, a lot of solid layering in quality fabrications, and timeless shapes that can be mixed and matched,” is how Kathleen Fanto, owner of ruhling // woven, a brick-and-mortar boutique in Lawrenceville that offers found and upcycled apparel and accessories, described a modern minimalist aesthetic.
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“Technically (according to Etsy), anything 20+ years of age is considered ‘vintage.’ So, styles from the ‘90s, and soon, early 2000s are a part of the vintage realm now,” Fanto said. “And the simplicity of these pieces is relevant and approachable.”
Vintage does not mean outdated. Current fashion trends play a large role in shaping Basil and ruhling // woven collections. Because of their attention to relevance and trends, new eyes are seeing the light of sustainable shopping. “Vintage is trendy,” said Montana. “We see styles recycle all the time, vintage is the fuel behind that, and if we care about our planet, we care about vintage!”
Fanto adds, “I am always checking out what current designers are doing around fashion week, taking note of key trends that I can then search for and bring to my clients, keeping it sustainable and affordable.”
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Basil and ruhling // woven are joined by Dead Byrd Vintage, founded by local creative Dana Broeker, and recently launched Saguaro Vintage, created by local artist Sarah Warda, in providing Pittsburgh with on-trend, sustainable clothing options. Thanks to these women, the environment (and our wallets) do not have to be sacrificed for style.
For more facts surrounding the environmental benefits of shopping vintage and secondhand, check out this article published by Fashion Revolution.
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Pittsburgh Modern Minimalist Style: Where to shop the look
Basil
Shop Basil online here and follow @basilofficial_ for pop-up dates and sneak peeks at collections.
Dead Byrd Vintage
Shop Dead Byrd Vintage online here and follow @deadbyrdvintage for the latest offerings styled to perfection.
Saguaro Vintage
Shop the nomadic, one-of-a-kind Saguaro Vintage online here and follow @saguaro_vintage for the latest vintage drops.
ruhling // woven
Shop the beautiful minimal space of ruhling // woven at 5417 Butler Street (Wed. thru Sat. 12 – 7 PM and Sun. 12 PM – 5 PM ). Follow along @ruhling_woven for a visual art experience.
Looking for more vintage shopping in Pittsburgh?
Check out our profile of Highway Robbery Vintage.
Header photo courtesy of ruhling//woven.
