When first-time homeowners first start kitting out their new abode, they often turn to IKEA for their furniture needs. But while IKEA’s flatpack furniture are reliable, they can also look generic if you’re not intentional about the way you decorate. To inject personality into your home, we recommend sourcing unique secondhand pieces instead.
Enter Journey East’s Vintage Fair, which will be returning for the 8th year on the 1st and 2nd of April. To be held at Journey East’s shop at Tan Boon Liat building, the vintage weekend market will feature items such as retro jewellery, authentic Art Deco pieces, and even clothing from the 50s.
Vintage weekend market by retro furniture shop Journey East
Image credit: Journey East
If you’ve ever traversed the furniture labyrinth that is Tan Boon Liat, without a shadow of a doubt, you’ll have been to Journey East. The store isn’t your run-of-the-mill furniture shop – they offer vintage, unique pieces in styles ranging from modern industrial chic to authentic Art Deco. So you know that the items at the Vintage Fair will be legit.
5 vintage stores to shop at the pop-up
This year, Journey East is partnering with 5 other businesses to offer everything from vintage jewellery to retro yo-yos. Based on the sneak peeks on Journey East’s Instagram, it’s clear that they’ve pulled out all the stops and curated a wicked list of vintage items that will be worthy of a place in your home.
PepperVint Home – Vintage handcrafted homewares
Image credit: @journeyeast, @journeyeast
PepperVint Home is a shop specialising in sustainable vintage home decor pieces. The shop was founded by June, who also helms Trove of Gaia – one of Singapore’s first zero-waste shops. PepperVint Home combines June’s zero-waste values with her passion for collecting vintage items and was an expansion of her first shop Trove of Gaia, which was founded in 2017.
Image credit: @peppervinthome, @peppervinthome
June personally sources her collection of decor pieces overseas. From her past trip to Europe, she brought back pieces that have Greek influences, such as the vintage clay amphora long planter vase ($36) and the vintage 24K gold handpainted diorama amphora vase ($80).
These pieces bring a touch of ancient sophistication to your modern home, so keep your eyes peeled for kitschy pottery, Art Deco glassware, and even classic sculpture busts sourced from all over the world.
Retroscaper – Retro lamps, clocks & crockery
Image credit: @journeyeast, @retroscaper
Created by 2 close friends, Retroscaper is a vintage e-store that curates secondhand home decor pieces that are retro, vintage, and have the potential to be conversation starters. Beyond just sourcing for items, the duo also upcycle old items to give them a second life.
Image credit: @retroscaper, @retroscaper
Retroscaper carries a wide range of homeware such as quirky lamps, clocks, and crockery. These pieces are often vibrantly coloured and have distinct textures and patterns that will spice up a plain living room. The Betty Boop hand-painted clock costs $65, and Pinzon by Caleca hand-painted dinner plates cost $20 each.
Black Bean Source – Old-school memorabilia
Image credit: @journeyeast, @journeyeast, @journeyeast, @journeyeast
Black Bean Source is like a magpie’s dream come true – the vintage collectibles shop curates a mindblowing selection of items from the past, from old-school handheld games to watches that your grandparents would have worn.
Five Stones Vintage – Vintage dresses, cheongsams and accessories
Image credit: fivestonesvintage, fivestonesvintage, fivestonesvintage
To catch the eye of fellow vintage lovers, cop an outfit or two from Five Stones Vintage. They are well-known for their cheongsams, some of which date all the way back to the 50s. This stunning 90s red floral cheongsam costs $110.96.
They also carry accessories such as rings, belts, and hair barrettes from different decades. The 80s plastic hair barrettes (set of 2) costs $18.03 and the 90’s rainbow striped canvas belt costs $19.42.
According to Five Stones Vintage’s Instagram, they’ll be selling exclusive items that won’t be listed on their Etsy page, so be sure to check it out for yourself.
Eye of the Cat Jewellery & Peony Jade – Vintage quality jewellery
Image credit: @journeyeast
Next, complete your outfit with antique and vintage jewellery from Eye of the Cat Jewellery or Peony Jade.
Founder Jennifer Banse launched Eye of the Cat Jewellery in 2019 to introduce people to preloved and vintage jewellery, which carry stories from the past with them. A vintage 9K rose gold 3-stone opal ring costs $259.
As a GIA Accredited Jewelry Professional (AJP), Jennifer is dedicated to sharing her knowledge such as how to take care of your jewellery and other dos and don’ts tips.
Left to right: Mizpah jewellery and an 18K gold ring from Carrera y Carrera, a Spanish company.
Image credit: @peonynjade, @peonynjade
Similarly, Precilia Wong of Peony Jade shares the same passion for vintage jewellery. She is a highly knowledgeable ring collector and takes to Instagram to share the history and symbolism behind her finds such as Mizpah jewellery, popularised in the 1850s. According to Precilia, the 18K gold ring will be available at Vintage Fair.
Together, the duo hold pop-ups regularly to spread the gospel of vintage jewellery collection far and wide. Through their social media posts, it’s clear that they love chatting with customers about jewellery, so don’t be afraid to ask for advice, recommendations, or even the history behind the pieces.
Vintage Fair 2023 at Tan Boon Liat building
Head down to Outram this weekend and bring home some unique vintage pieces that can wow your family and friends. And who knows, you might even strike up a conversation with fellow vintage lovers and make new home enthusiast friends. RSVP via Journey East’s Facebook page to make sure you’re guaranteed a spot.
Address: 315 Outram Road, #03-02, Tan Boon Liat Building, Singapore 169074
Date: 1st – 2nd April 2023
Time: 10am–6pm
Contact: 6473 1693 | Journey East website | Journey East Instagram
Read more about:
- King Koil storewide sale
- Naomi Neo’s new house
- Colourful Tampines GreenVines blocks partially repainted
Cover image adapted from: @eyeofthecatjewellery, @retroscaper, @peppervinthome
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