Istanbul offers a variety of vintage shops, which are renowned for their attention to detail, as a city with very much history hidden in every urban crevice. For the most excellent range of clothes and accessories in the Turkish town, visit TurkeyVisaOnline’s favourite vintage shops.
Vintage Istanbul
Ozge Tan Ozbek, the owner of Vintage Istanbul, has been collecting her items as a pastime for many years before starting to share them. Here you’ll discover a wide choice of accessories and jewellery, from high-end names like Vera Wang to equally stylish no-name brands.
Mock
Mock should be your one-stop shop if you’re looking for vintage furniture as well as clothing. Apart from swimsuits, corsets, and gowns, principally from the 1930s – 1990s, the store also has retro furniture and pieces designed by the owners.
Sentetik Sezar
Sentetik Sezar, considered one of the finest in the city, proudly displays its collection in a well-organized and high-quality way. Clothing, shoes, and accessories from the 1970s to the early 1990s are in excellent condition and dry cleaned individually. For the most up-to-date inventory, visit the store’s Facebook page.
Kulis Vintage
At Kulis Vintage, you won’t have to do much sifting because everything is carefully displayed in a clutter-free manner. You’ll find high-end secondhand apparel, as well as beautiful costume jewellery and silk scarves.
By Retro
This basement-floor hideout offers one of Istanbul’s most extensive collections of vintage treasures. You’ll be browsing leather jackets, wedding gowns, coats, sunglasses, and everything in between for a few hours (neatly organized into sections, thankfully). By Retro is well-known for providing outfits for Turkish television shows.
Grandma Vintage
Gizem Saluvan changed her life after working as a visual merchandiser for Mavi Jeans and decided to launch Grandma Vintage. Clothing, purses, accessories, shoes, home décor and furnishings are all available at her shop, which is the product of her frequent excursions to local markets and international trips. Gizem never buys anything she wouldn’t wear or use herself, so you’ll be sure to find something useful.
Binbavul Vintage
With a name like “One Thousand Suitcases,” you can only imagine what Binbavul has in mind for you. An extensive collection of items from the 1920s through the 1990s is available for exploring, and the records, books, and cameras are all worth checking out.
Nahıl
Nahil is one of Istanbul’s lesser-known vintage clothes jewels, having started as a handicrafts business to help Turkey’s Foundation for the Support of Women’s Work. Nahil’s pricing is the closest to Goodwill’s or other large vintage chains that don’t exist in Turkey, with two rooms of gently used dresses, blouses, slacks, skirts, shoes, jewellery, and menswear area upstairs, all provided by contributions to the foundation. On your way, pick up some handcrafted soap, a notebook, or a doll, all of which benefit a great cause.
Eleni Vintage
Eleni Vintage, one of Istanbul’s newest additions to the vintage clothes industry, launched four months ago in Istanbul’s bohemian Cihangir neighbourhood. Even though it is just a few months old, owner Eleni zgür has amassed a good collection of women’s clothing, accessories, and small furniture. The ranges are slightly on the high side, but the quality merits them. The whimsical display is delightful.
myPERA
Anyone who has visited Cihangir before would remember myPERA, one of the town’s oldest vintage shops, for its gorgeous outdoor displays. This cosy small corner business, conveniently placed next door to a used shoe store, features some true jewels in its limited space. Türkan Rodoplu, the owner and fashion designer, is always willing to help and offer stylish advice. MyPERA is a must-visit for every vintage shopper in Istanbul since it is equal parts vintage shop and thrift shop.
Until recently, Istanbul’s vintage garment culture was limited to costume shops, small racks in antique shops, and “eskicis” – old men who pushed carts of used stuff around the city’s streets. On the other hand, Vintage clothing shops are on the rise in Istanbul. Several superb choices have opened in attractive central areas like Galata and Cihangir. Always check online to see whether the stores are still open before going.
Vintage clothing shops are better for both the environment and your wallet. There’s also a good chance you’ll come upon a one-of-a-kind item. What’s not to like about that? TurkeyVisaOnline has compiled a helpful list of Istanbul’s top 10 vintage clothes shops for those looking to skip the city’s flashy shops and enjoy an eco-friendlier shopping experience.