By Billie May Mason and Ali Suker
Photos by Billie May Mason
Holloway Road’s “oldest vintage shop” will be reaching 30 years of business at the start of the new year.
Blue 17 is an American-style vintage store located at 162 Holloway Road. The store was established in 1994, selling second-hand pieces imported directly from New York.
The store resides in a Victorian building with two floors, providing a variety of items ranging from 1940 to 1990, including accessories, footwear, and clothing for men and women.
Yuko Lin, 49, one of the store owners, expressed the value of vintage shops in London and the change the industry has seen in places like Brick Lane and Camden due to the influx of larger companies.
“The whole of Shoreditch used to be local businesses and the working class; now it’s turned into money. Same thing in Camden. Twenty years ago, it was so nice with all the vintage stalls, but now it’s more high-end big names there, and they’ve pushed everybody out.”
Despite the store’s longstanding success, Blue 17 will not be celebrating the 30-year milestone due to local business closures. “We don’t want to make a big fuss; it’s great that we are one of the oldest vintage shops in London, but a lot of shops are struggling and closing down in Holloway. It would feel wrong to celebrate,” Lin added.
In 2022 alone, more than 17,000 stores closed down in the UK, which is nearly 50 stores every single day, according to The Centre for Retail Research.
Stores such as Blue 17 are vital to the preservation of local history and culture. The store stands as a testament to independent businesses, showing their ability to thrive within their local community.
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