Re-boot your wardrobe at Hackney’s vintage oasis

Every weekend, Hackney’s Princess May Primary School is transformed into a paradise for anyone out to discover vintage treasures – but be ready to get up early to grab them…

The London Car Boot Co. event opens for business at 7am, and that’s when those most keen to come across some real bargains will be there.

Upon walking through the gates of the school, I was greeted with an overwhelming volume of sellers with vast amounts of jewellery, clothes, and miscellaneous items. There was music playing out of multiple speakers from the regulars who set up stalls in their usual spots.

Overall, the atmosphere is wonderful and the items cheap.

Within the first five minutes I found a lady who had filled multiple clothing rails with eccentric items of clothing, along with a rug laid on the floor occupied with shoes, including an authentic pair of knee-high leather Miu Miu boots worth around £800 which she was selling for an incredible £20.

Princess May Primary School is around a five-minute walk from Dalston Kingston Overground Station, and with £1 entry after 10am the sale is a perfect Sunday morning activity.

The car boot attracts characters, old and young, old-fashioned and trendy, allowing people of all kinds to find items that suit their style for a fraction of what it would worth had they bought it brand new.

Vintage Versace, second-hand Miu Miu and hand-me-down Dior are just some of the brands you can expect to find – and any form of fakes, replicas, or mock-ups of designer and high-end brands are not allowed.

Not only does the car boot attract buyers who are looking to extend their wardrobe but also bargain hunters looking to find items for their own next auction.

With the popularity of vintage clothing growing amongst online sellers, many people flock to sales such as this one in order to find an item of clothing for a fraction of its original price, all with the intention of reselling it to make a profit.

For those who are simply there for the outing, the car boot also sells freshly prepared burgers and hotdogs as well as a selection of sandwiches, pastries, and hot drinks.

If scouring stalls for a bargain is your thing, or you are purely looking for a weekend activity, this car boot is the perfect hidden gem.

For more information visit The London Car Boot Co’s website here.

Find the car boot at: Princess May School, Stoke Newington, London, N16 8DF.

Photos by Summer Shannon