Colourful walls and floor to ceiling windows shed a fabulous light on the vintage selection at COW, as one walks through the glass doors. The Leeds vintage fashion scene has triumphantly reemerged post-covid, and its second-hand saints, like Avalon Burn, are passionate about the growing interest. A regular at the store, I avoided the temptation to shop and headed over to her, receiving a warm, Canadian welcome.
From charity shop popularity, to maximalist style and men outdoing us in the fashion department, we immediately delve into the topic of vintage.
Avalon divulges into the hazy details of her high school side-hustle days, running her own reworked vintage store from a locker. Whilst crediting her for the hard work, I expressed that it must have been a frantic daze, to which she understandably agrees. Becoming more familiar with brands through sourcing their stock in charity shops, we mutually agree on how these shops are evolving on the scene.
When discussing stigmas, Avalon delivers a great line about donated clothes not being “dirtier than the bus you sit on, in them”.
She mentions that when browsing the charity shops, she will always go for a sustainable M&S or Urban Outfitters pick, as they are much more durable. The vintage fashion landscape in small towns can be sparse, something Avalon and her friend were looking to change when she worked at her store, back in Canada. Interestingly noted is the correlation between recycled styling and trends on Tiktok, that she said peaked local interest — the UK definitely felt the same way. As a central style inspiration, she endearingly talks about Youtuber, Enya Umanzor, whom at the beginning of her blogging career would scour the shops with friends.
There’s certainly a type of admiration that women of our generation have for the authentic few we see rise to fame. “Enya is who I go to for outfit inspiration, Vivienne is who I wear” comes as no shock based on Avalon’s hints towards her preferred style, “I want weird”.
Jesting that she was raised a ‘crunchy granola kid’, the maximalism of Westwood’s brand and interest in eccentric fashion influencers suits Avalon’s exuberant personality and quick wit. After talking about the prospect of animal print being this summer’s trend, she describes the style creativity that she’s recently influenced upon the men in her life. Expanding one universe at a time, Avalon introduced her male housemates to the world of second-hand at COW and her boyfriend to more expansive styling.
Avalon's outfit pick for a 'sporty summer'
She says, "paired with some knee-high socks and Mary-Janes"
Accompanying her proud feelings towards their fashion evolution, she follows “If their style is too over the top compared to my outfit, I get annoyed … you’re better dressed than me that can’t happen!”
Through laughs, Avalon continues, “Dress to suit me, don’t clash”.
“Here, we get loads of solo male shoppers, who look blankly at menswear, but I love seeing them try new things.”
Whilst the progressive conversation of fluidity in menswear gains traction and the vintage wave peaks interest, will we be left underdressed and exposed?
Savvy on the importance of styling, we confer on blurry ‘guidelines’ that set the tone: “I think it’s more about people realising clothes are for everyone as long as they fit you…
wear that crop top, I love that — just make sure it fits!”
When surplus stock makes it way to COW that doesn't fit their conditions criteria, the staff do all they can to reuse and recycle. In addition to a few existing reworked bags currently in store, the team are working specifically with old leather and tattered Carhartt materials, to create shoulder bags.
Avalon added that even though these clothing items are favourites, “People want it in a different way”.
Constant innovative thinking proves essential for this industry, with all those involved carrying us into a more sustained fashion future.
