Best vintage markets and resellers in SA: Meet the people behind the businesses
From dresses double their age to “retro” Quiksilver last worn in 2000, meet Adelaide’s vintage fashion resellers making big bucks on discarded hand-me-downs.
Lifestyle
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Forget buying new off the rack, buying second-hand vintage fashion is where it’s at.
In a world where trends start and end in a matter of hours, clothes from eras long past are making a come back among fashion forward South Aussies wanting to invest in a slice of history.
From one-of-a-kind wedding gowns to oversized Y2K graphic tees, meet some of SA’s up and coming vintage resellers driving the industry’s booming resale market.
Tara Rowe
Business: Call Me The Breeze Vintage
Handle: @callmethebreeze
Finding the perfect dress is a mammoth task for any bride-to-be.
And for those wanting to find something truly unique, the chic allure of vintage gowns is almost irresistible.
It’s what drew Tara Rowe into the world of vintage bridal fashion after all.
“I have always had an affinity with fashion, vintage and antiques ever since I was a teenager,” the 34-year-old reseller said.
“The quality of construction, unusual designs, better fabrics, the character, the price, the stories … I love different characteristics from most eras.”
In late 2023, the Port Lincoln local went all in on her love for vintage, buying a shed filled with vintage pieces which became the catalyst for her business, Call Me The Breeze Vintage.
“I was approached by a friend who had an entire shed on her rural SA farm full of vintage clothing, collected over 40 years which she was ready to part with,” the mum-of-three said.
“There was boxes and boxes of vintage bridal, accessories, lingerie and so much more.
“I bought the whole lot, loaded up my car and trailer and that was the beginning.”
Noticing a demand for bridal wear, she dived head first into collecting wedding dresses passed down from the generations – think 50s tulle, 80s puff sleeves and 90s silk gowns.
With every stitch and stain woven with memories from a time long past, the gowns aren’t only gorgeous but affordable, sustainable while also serving as your “something old.”
“It wasn’t something I planned, but very quickly I found the demand was high for my bridal selections,” she said.
“I think the younger millennial and Gen-Z bride are hunting for more affordable and sustainable bridal options and I’ve lent into it.”
With over 83,000 followers on Instagram, Ms Rowe has carved out a name for herself as one of the go-to’s for vintage bridal wear.
It’s on Instagram where she shares her latest finds, often sharing try-on videos and hauls with her followers.
“It has become my niche and it truly is a dream trying wedding dresses on all day,” she said.
Social media has been “invaluable” for her business’s growth, especially living on a 120ha acre farm with “no neighbours for miles”.
“It allows me to connect and engage with people all over the world who get just as excited as I do about unique and rare vintage design,” she said.
One of her favourite gowns she’s ever sold is an “unforgettable” 90s satin gown which had a “very unique boned corset,” and was “snapped up in a heartbeat”.
But it can be hard selling one-off pieces which leave a “trail of broken hearts from those who missed out,” she said.
It’s not just brides embracing vintage with more and more people turning to second-hand fashion as an affordable alternative, Ms Rowe said.
“I think we are all just bored with what is on offer in terms of shopping new,” she said.
“Plus with the cost of living, shopping second hand makes so much sense for both environmental and economical reasons.
“What you are seeking is already out there and probably for a lot cheaper than buying new.”
Charlotte Goodwin
Business: XChange Markets
Handle: @xchangemarkets
Charlotte Goodwin, 26, has had a “strong connection” to vintage fashion since her teens.
“Any opportunity I had growing up, you’d find me at my local Salvos or Savers,” she said.
It was this passion that led her to start selling pieces online for three years under her previous brand, Casper and Willow, before pivoting into the market-sphere.
“It wasn’t until 2023 when I proposed the idea of running a market place with my partner Annabel,” she said.
“Having already been a seller, it gave me a unique perspective – allowing me to establish an event that values both quality and community.
“We really wanted to create a space that was welcoming for everyone, a real hub for vintage lovers.”
Thus, one of Adelaide’s most popular markets, XChange Markets, was born.
Starting in a modest warehouse it was an instant hit with the local fashion crowd.
Fast forward two years on and they’ve moved to the Market Shed where they host up to 50 sellers and multiple food vendors each month.
While fashion is the main drawcard, there’s plenty more on offer at XChange including pop-up tattoo stalls and tarot card readings.
2025 is shaping up to be their biggest year yet with a Melbourne launch on the horizon this May.
“To me it was always a bit of a pipe dream to take it interstate, let alone around Australia,” Ms Goodwin said.
“It’s a totally new kettle of fish and way out of my depth.
“In saying this, I love a challenge so organising an interstate event has been a huge leap – but I feel ready.”
With no plans to slow down anytime soon, Ms Goodwin hopes to expand across Australia and potentially overseas.
“The potential to inspire more people to embrace sustainable fashion on a larger scale is exciting, and I’m eager to get the ball rolling,” she said.
Ellie Maiorana
Business: No Scrubs Vintage
Handle: @noscrubs.vintage
Ellie Maiorana is the face behind No Scrubs Vintage, a small business selling “consciously hand-picked” vintage homewares, fashion and accessories.
Having always loved fashion and styling, like many others her business bloomed from her love of thrifting.
“I moved to Adelaide for uni from rural Victoria and started thrifting as a hobby,” she said.
“I started finding cool pieces of clothing that weren’t in my size, but I wanted to share my vision for vintage pieces I was finding; so, I started collecting and dropping themed drops on Instagram.”
Her business took off during the pandemic with the 24-year-old becoming part of a strong vintage reseller community online, learning how to date an item based off its tag, stitching or where it was made.
A big fan of 70s fashion, there is very little that she doesn’t love about vintage fashion.
“We live in a time where we are constantly pressured into consuming and participating in micro-trends – wearing vintage helps you have a sense of personal style,” she said.
But it’s more than just selling vintage with her Instagram serving as a “digital creative outlet”.
“I love taking aesthetic photos and flat lays and showing my favourite finds, as well as bonding with other like-minded vintage loving folk,” she said.
Between “driving to various locations, washing and mending pieces to get them up to scratch to sell” being a reseller isn’t without its challenges, she said.
Aside from selling online, she also stocks pieces at Summertown Studio and is a market regular, selling at events like XChange Markets, Second Life Markets and Gilles at the Grounds.
Trent Wallace & Riley Knevitt
Business: Volant Vintage
Handle: @volant.vintage
If you’re looking for retro Nike or Rip Curl, look no further than Volant Vintage.
Based in SA, Volant Vintage stocks vintage surf and sportswear sourced from all over the world, including big brands like Quiksilver and smaller Aussie brands like Kuta Lines.
The business was started in 2020 by Riley Knevitt, 23, with a friend, who later stepped down, as a side hustle.
Having developed a “huge” interest in surf wear, Trent Wallace, 23, joined the team with the pair working together ever since.
They’ve sold some “crazy pieces” through Instagram and Depop in their time, including a Billabong jumper for $600.
The resurgence of Y2K is something the duo have embraced wholeheartedly.
“90s was more of a golden era for clothes that people can relate to now,” Mr Wallace said.
“The 80s bright coloured clothes and short-shorts hasn’t had the same effect.
“I think personally for us, Y2K clothing is more nostalgic as its closer to what we wore as kids.”
But its also the “uniqueness and quality” which draws people in.
“A lot of companies and brands are bringing back older designs purely because of how cool they are,” he said.
“However finding a rare, genuine vintage piece that only a small amount of people in the world would actually have, is a pretty special feeling.
“Not to mention the quality of these pieces that often feel in new condition, although they are 20-plus years old.”
Promoting circular fashion is at the heart of their business which is something they say resonates with their generation.
Cheryl Mudge
Business: Mum The Kids & The Wardrobe
Handle: @mum_the_kids_and_the_wardrobe2
Better known as Mum The Kids & The Wardrobe, Cheryl Mudge is a vintage reseller specialising in boho, eclectic and retro style pieces.
Having loved thrifting from as long as she can remember, she started her business as a way to share her love for vintage clothes and homewares.
A social worker and doula by trade, the Adelaide Hills mum of three left her 9-to-5 to run her vintage business full time three years ago and hasn’t looked back since.
“I love the flexibility, freedom and creativity it allows me and I’ve recently started teaching others to do the same,” she said in a video posted to Instagram.
She sells pieces through both Instagram and Etsy, often sharing her thrifting tips and finds online.
When she’s not exploring the racks at thrift stores, she enjoys spending time out in nature with her sons and pets, or catching a gig with friends.
Bernie Elston
Handle: @bernieelston
Bernie Elston is Adelaide’s unofficial vintage market queen with numerous events under her belt.
The Glenunga local regularly hosts markets across the city, including the Cranker “Rock n Roll” Market and Y2 Slay Market.
For Ms Elston, hosting fashion markets is about bringing the community together over a shared love of sustainable fashion.
“The whole scene in Adelaide is a really lovely environment, everybody’s interested in helping ingrain a recycling, reusing kind of aspect to vintage clothing,” she previously told The Advertiser.
“It’s great having a community which are all like minded to kind of inform and help each other and also inspire each other by putting on events where we can support buying second hand.”
As someone who’s style is constantly evolving, buying second-hand is a great way to explore new aesthetics without breaking the bank.
“I’m just looking for those few things that I want to wear over and over again until you go into a newer style,” she said.
“When you’re going through your little phases of what you’re into, it’s easier to find things that you’re interested in when you are thrifting because it’s not necessarily the current trends.
“It’s just a lot of fun looking for treasure and the items that are valuable to you, which necessarily may not cost much at all, might only cost 50 cents.”
Maggie aka ThriftKid
Business: ThriftKid
Handle: @thriftkid__
Based in Adelaide, Maggie, aka ThriftKid, is a vintage reseller specialising in baby, toddler and kids clothes.
Her thrifting obsession was kicked off by her daughter Iris, with her passion inspiring her to “take the leap” and launch ThriftKid last year.
The full-time teacher and mum-of-two is “passionate about finding homes” for preloved retro and vintage pieces.
“I love reducing fast fashion and helping to spark the love of thrifted fashion for the next generation,” she posted on Instagram.
“Every time we send a new piece off online or at our local markets (it drives) me to keep searching and sourcing and brings me so much joy.”
Since launching last year, Maggie has had stores at a handful of local markets including Gilles at the Grounds and the Glenelg Sunset Markets.
Amanda Blair
Business: Dulcie’s Vintage
Handle: @dulciesbus
Dulcie’s Vintage is a fashion oasis for vintage lovers and bargain hunters alike.
Best known for their funky bus, which has become a fixture of the Adelaide Fringe’s Garden of Unearthly Delights, Dulcie’s began as a mobile op shop in 2013 with the goal of eliminating fabric waste in landfill.
Founder Amanda Blair, 67, has been into preloved fashion long before it became trendy and is proud to rock an entire wardrobe of vintage.
“ I only wear the things I love. Fashion it is about bringing me joy, comfort and statement pieces that tell a story,” she previously told The Advertiser.
“I am at the stage in life where I am not looking to add and contribute to the fast-fashion landfill problem we are environmentally creating, but trying to reuse, recycle and up cycle amazing fashion that just needs a new forever home.”
As well as the bus, Dulcie’s has a store in the Adelaide Arcade along with another located on Grange Road at Kidman Park.
A true vintage treasure trove, Dulcie’s stocks high-end and affordable vintage gems to suit all tastes and budgets with 100 per cent of proceeds from each sale split between Hutt Street Centre and CentaCare to support people in need.
Paris Kemp
Business: Medusa Vintage
Handle: @medusa.vintage
Medusa Vintage is Paris Kemp’s “side hustle turned obsession”.
With pieces ranging from the 50s to early 2000s in all shapes and sizes, she sells a little bit of everything at an affordable price point.
“My brand is notably on the cheaper end of the spectrum of Adelaide resellers,” the 22-year-old said.
“I tend not to hunt for the “grails” that can afford sellers massive profits.
“My best finds are the most unique or the oldest. There’s nothing better than finding a dress that’s double your age but still looks immaculate.”
She started her business in 2019 during Year 12 after becoming an “avid” thrifter, seizing the opportunity to “not only make some extra cash but to promote sustainability and slow fashion”.
As a reseller who hand-picks most of her pieces from op shops, she said it could be a real gamble as you can’t be certain that you’ll “come home with a good haul”.
And while vintage is on the rise, there’s still judgement towards those who choose to buy and wear second-hand clothes.
“It gives many the heebie jeebies imagining a scenario where someone died in the piece they’re wearing. But oh well – their loss!” she said.
The reseller market has also become “majorly oversaturated” with the Woodville Gardens local thanking her teenage self for starting when she did.
“It has taken me until now to really see any profit,” she said.
“I have come close to giving up countless times and have sunk irresponsible amounts of money into the hobby.
“Resellers do what they do because they are passionate. No one is getting rich quick from this.
“Vintage items are one of a kind … often pieces will sit for months before they find their new home with someone who appreciates the style and fits the garment.”
For Ms Kemp, who sells in store at My Dead Grandpa, local markets and online on Depop, the best part about vintage clothing is the uniqueness that comes with it.
My Dead Grandpa
Business: My Dead Grandpa
Handle: @mydeadgrandpa.adl
Described as “the love child” of an antique store and a rock concert, My Dead Grandpa is Adelaide’s newest and biggest vintage marketplace.
Founded by siblings Benjamin, 28, Isaac, and Esther Troup, 20, the Ranelagh St store opened its doors last month and is home to over 50 of the city’s top vintage vendors serving up everything from retro fashion to vinyls to quirky trinkets.
It’s the second venture for the Troup siblings who launched Vintage Pizza back in 2021 after several years in the industry.
While their new venture’s name has caused a stir, its all in good fun, serving as a nod to the past lives of each garment.
“It is reminiscent of the fact that if you’re interested in retro and vintage clothing, the fact is you’re wearing somebody else’s clothes,” Benjamin previously told The Advertiser.
“It’s one thing to wear somebody else’s clothes but you’re also wearing the story of somebody else – the story of a bygone era.”
With retailers paying a weekly fee to operate out of the warehouse, the trio also bear the brunt of dealing with “all the overheads” to give local businesses the opportunity to sell their pieces in a brick-and-mortar store.
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