A vintage haven hiding in plain sight

A little scruffy and unassuming from the outside, Global Vintage Collective is a dream destination for any thrift-store enthusiast. The shopfront is lined with racks of mostly American-label vintage fashion, while the back warehouse is filled with piles of secondhand treasures waiting to be discovered – making it hard to leave empty handed.

Fashion that spans generations

Though the focus is firmly on vintage, the store spans decades, offering pieces from the 1920s through to the 1990s and beyond. There’s something uniquely tactile about vintage shopping – more than any other kind – where the joy lies in feeling fabrics, trying things on, and digging for hidden gems.

From markets to main street

Ashley Tell knows this better than most. Before opening Global Vintage Collective in 2013, the Californian model-turned-retailer sold vintage wares at market stalls across Camberwell Market and Queen Victoria Night Market. Now, each year when summer fades, she heads off to Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and California to hand-pick stock for the Richmond store.

Explore the racks, discover the back

While the front room is dedicated mostly to women’s wear, the real treasure trove lies in the back – think denim, leather, shirts, dresses, and shoes, all ripe for rummaging. Need something altered? Just pop next door.