Introducing Amy & Tom, from Top Banana, a vintage shop on the York Road in Kings Heath!
Fast fashion is having an incredibly negative impact on our world right now. We see clothes on sale online for less than £1. Shein’s production schedule is just a matter of days. It should be obvious that these garments are completely unsustainable – both the working conditions that fast fashion practices encourage, as well as the environmental impact. Buying vintage clothes, that already exist, is a great way to reduce our impact on our planet and the people on it.
Top Banana stock a whole host of vintage clothes, including lots and lots converse and vans!
- Why is sustainability important to you?
“For me, embracing a slower and more sustainable pace of consumption, especially with clothing, has made me much more mindful of the world around me. I do think it’s important that we interrogate why we feel that we need something that an influencer is trying to sell us from the high street or an online retailer. I think it’s important that we ask ourselves ‘how has this garment come to exist? What are the consequences?’ It has been a helpful mindset shift when thinking about what really matters.”
- What sorts of things do you need to consider to ensure your business is sustainable?
“We’re lucky that our shop is, inherently, pretty sustainable. All the clothes and shoes you see in store are vintage, meaning that we’re not adding more garments into circulation. There are already enough clothes on the planet to clothe the next six generations! So, we’re helping some of them find their next home. The previous owner of our shop had a lot of stock in storage so, at the moment, that’s what populates our shop floor. It’s truly vintage. When we need to buy more stock, we will off-set the environmental impact of getting to the wholesalers or the shipping.”
“We also stay local wherever possible. For example, our window design was created by a local artist – the brilliant Spice Up You Line (@SpiceUpYourLine on Instagram). We love to collaborate with other sustainable brands like PunksAndChancers (@PunksAndChancers on Instagram), whose gorgeous tees we now stock. It’s great to shout about others doing brilliant things that are good for the world!”
- What is your favourite thing about running your business?
“One of my favourite things is when a customer picks up a piece that I think is a real stunner and I get to watch them fall in love with it too. Bonus if it fits them like a glove and they go home with it! I think the feeling of knowing that nobody has the same item of clothing as you is a special one that fewer and fewer people experience in this era. I’m proud that we get to share that feeling around.”
- What do you love about Birmingham?
“I’ve been in Birmingham for less than a year, having moved here to my partner’s hometown. Living in London felt quite isolating at times but Kings Heath has been a complete contrast. I’ve felt welcomed and accepted in a way that I didn’t expect. It has been a very powerful thing and gives me the confidence to keep the business going.”
Check out Top Banana on Instagram (@topbananakh), check out some of their items on Vinted, and head over to Kings Heath to browse their wonderful collection!