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Want to explore Dublin’s fashion hotspots? Sex and Relationships Editor Christina Murphy shares some local independent Irish stores where you can find a diverse range of fashion pieces at an affordable price.
In an age of rapidly disposable trends in fast fashion, now is the time to look out for independent spots in Dublin, both new and old, for back-to-school shopping, reliable second-hand clothes, and establishments that have price tags within budget
If you're shopping for an experience, then Phibsborough is the place to go! Once a month, usually on the second Sunday, there is the Bohemian Flea Market which is run by Le Zeitgeist, a community-focused event organiser. They offer over 100 indoor and outdoor stalls featuring vintage clothes, records, art and so much more. Also found in the neighbourhood near the Flea Market is The Vintage Shop. Located inside the Phibsborough shopping centre, so, if you happen to miss the market on the 13th of September, there are always vintage pieces waiting to be found around the area.
The most attractive destination for unique clothing pieces has to be located in the centre of the city. As busy, (and as stereotypically touristy), as it is, Temple Bar is littered with independent clothing stores that range from vintage to handmade pieces just inside their doors. Deirdre Macken runs one of Temple Bar’s best clothing shops, Lucy’s Lounge. Inside the store, the employees work hard to take fast fashion pieces from brands like Shein, Temu, or Primark and turn them into unique articles of clothing, reducing waste and encouraging personal style. The store sells a mixture of hand-picked vintage items, thrifted clothes, costume wear, and handmade pieces.
Only a few minutes' walk from Lucy’s Lounge is a store where you can literally buy your own weight in clothes. Dublin Vintage Factory is Ireland's premier independent "kilo store". Instead of traditional pricing, the items you buy are weighed at the counter. There is a flat rate of €30 per kilogram for your haul, and a minimum charge of at least €8 per individual piece in order to prevent heavier or premium items from being undersold. In terms of aesthetics, the inventory consists of everything from the 80s and 90s to Y2K retro street style. The Vintage Factory offers a budget-friendly way to pick up lightweight clothing pieces while also offering a diverse selection of designs to choose from.
For a slower, more minimalistic style of clothing, Indigo and Cloth is the place to be. The store operated from Temple Bar for years, but is now in a transitional period. It has a temporary store set up in Clarendon Street from August until January that will specifically focus on showcasing their latest Autumn and Winter collections. What originally started as an only menswear store has now transformed into a mixture of both men and women’s contemporary fashion. Their pieces value functionality and quality, labelling them as “wardrobe staples”. Their clothes are handmade by both international and Irish independent designers. .
Supporting these local independent clothing stores in Dublin is crucial in nurturing the unique style found in Ireland through fashion. Through this, we protect these businesses from soaring commercial rent prices, the costs of operating, and the overbearing domination of fast-fashion.