Low Vintage Sells a Look into the Past

Callan Shore, assistant editor

Nestled on a side street of the Downtown Mall, Low Vintage offers a unique shopping experience. The ambience is dark with low ceilings, as the store is underground, but upon entering, customers will be greeted with a plethora of colorful prints and a cheerful cashier.

Charlottesville has many Goodwill stores with a large selection of styles, but there are few vintage stores. Low Vintage fills the void well with a wide selection of clothes, records, and antique dishes. Low Vintage sets itself apart from others with its selection of pristine wedding dresses and children’s clothes, as well as its vast collection of cowboy boots.

Thrifting has become increasingly popular among millennials, but is vintage on the same track? Vintage stores sell items that were specially picked out and usually have some type of value, whereas thrift stores are more likely to accept all donated items. Additionally, vintage items typically follow a specific style, whereas thrift items are more diverse in style.

Despite the older styles that they sell, Low’s consumer base is young. This is likely due to the broadening awareness among millennials about sustainable fashion. Buying a recycled item from Low feels more special than buying something new because that item has a history and will help the environment.

The one downfall to shopping at Low is the high prices. A sweater may cost anywhere from $8 to $30, depending on its vintage value, and that same sweater would likely be $5 at Goodwill; it would simply require a harder search. However, Low always has a sale rack outside the entrance.

Low is more customer friendly and thoughtful than other thrift or vintage stores. Every item is organized into its respective category, and they are selective about the items they sell.  For example, all of the jewelry at Low is hand made by women designers from across the South of the U.S. Additionally, most of the clothing is made of linen and other eco-friendly materials. The dressing rooms are large with have multiple mirrors, and there is even an area for children to play while their parents shop.

If you want to see what Low Vintage has to offer, look for the circular blue sign on 5th St SE. Their hours are Sunday through Thursday 12-6 p.m., Friday 12-9 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.