Fashion-lovers can indulge in eclectic retro style with a visit to USED House of Vintage – a specialty shop with a thoughtfully curated selection of unique clothing, accessories, collectibles and more. Vintage finds from the 1910s to the 1990s are shipped from the store’s distribution centre in Vancouver each week, meaning that there’s always something new to discover.
“Vintage has a much more emotional component to it than shopping at a big box store,” says store manager Sarah Sussman, who has been with the store since August 2014. “When you try something on, there’s a stronger connection – there’s a feeling you get that’s almost like the product was made just for you.”
The shop is owned by the American Upstairs Clothing Company, which encompasses USED, iconic Calgary favourite The Rocket and a Vancouver-based outlet called Cherry Bomb. The store opened when The Rocket was relocated to a larger space in Kensington. According to Sarah, the move was an opportunity to introduce Calgarians to the exciting experience of vintage shopping.
“Calgary is a city that is often associated with wealth, but there really was a demand for vintage here – especially on 17th Avenue,” Sarah says. “There is a demographic of Calgarians who can’t be spending hundreds of dollars to look awesome, and you really don’t have to. By shopping vintage, people can hone in on personal style without having to spend a ton of cash.”
