They say “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure,” but when talking about The Née Vintage Store, you could file it all under treasure. Flanked with their signature basil green signage on South Bridge Road, when you first enter the three-level charming shop house space, you enter into a Pandora’s Box of impeccably curated designer finds.
A Christian Dior denim double Saddle, a Bvlgari Serpenti Tubogas ring, a sequin Fendi Baguette—the selection on the shelves comes down to both style and standards, with a scrupulous authentication process validating each item. In a world of trends and mass production, replication and consumption of fashion, you could call it anti-algorithmic to procure and purchase pieces from a bygone era, where precious, well-kept “one-offs” are invested in instead of the soon-to-be disposed of “latest hot thing”.
Data from eBay’s Watchlist Trend Report highlights shifts in consumer behaviour across its global community of nearly 134 million active shoppers. By the close of 2024, “vintage” reached new highs, with users searching the term 1,200 times every minute. While demand remained strong throughout 2024, 2025 marked the tipping point when secondhand style moved firmly into the spotlight.
“Looking back, 2025 was the year pre-loved fashion went mainstream. Red carpets embraced it like never before, with stars including Emma Chamberlain, Chappell Roan and Jeremy Pope making a compelling case for circular style in looks sourced from eBay at the Met Gala,” the 2025 year-end review states.
Six years ago though, The Née Vintage Store was ahead of the curve—there was an obvious lack of pre-loved shopping options in Singapore. That need to fill a vintage culture cavity here was the driving force behind why the boutique was born in the first place. And speaking of, nee comes from the French word née, the feminine past participle of nature, “to be born.” But, to put it more aptly, The Née Vintage Store’s ethos is more about a rebirth, giving pre-loved items a new lease on life. While style itself is indeed cyclical, circular fashion not only equals more bag for your buck, but is also a tick in the win box for the environment too.
The high-end reseller is celebrating its anniversary this month, so we took the opportunity to sit down with Managing Director Winnie Wang to decipher what makes vintage so desirable in 2026.
Aside from a heritage house label, what else would qualify an item as The Née Vintage Store-worthy?
At The Née Vintage Store, the brand name is only the starting point. In many ways, time itself is just a concept. When we curate pieces for the store, we focus on three key factors: design value, condition, and longevity. We don’t select items simply because they are trending at the moment. Every piece that enters our boutique must possess a sense of timelessness—essentially something that will still feel relevant and beautiful many years later. For us, vintage is not simply about nostalgia, it is about design that can truly stand the test of time.
What are some of the qualifying factors in choosing the pieces you stock?
We carefully examine every piece. For example, when it comes to bags, we look at the structure, the condition of the leather, the wear on the hardware, whether the item has been restored, and its overall usability. Condition is extremely important. Vintage does not mean worn out, it means something that has been well preserved over time. Of course, all of these standards come with one essential premise: the item must be authentic. In fact, many pieces in our store are in such excellent condition that they can sometimes feel even more impressive than contemporary retail items.
“For us, vintage is not simply about nostalgia, it is about design that can truly stand the test of time.”
In a time of extremely high-quality counterfeit luxury bags or the “super fakes”, has your authentication process evolved over this six year period? How can customers feel confident in their purchases?
Authentication has always been our top priority. Over the years, our process has evolved significantly. In the early days, we relied heavily on Japan’s highly developed authentication systems and then as the business grew, we gradually established a multi-layer authentication framework aligned with Singapore’s regulatory standards. This process took years of refinement and verification. We also maintain close collaborations with third-party authentication institutions, combining professional tools with the expertise of our team to conduct thorough inspections for every item. Our goal is simple: customers should be able to shop with complete confidence. In the vintage industry, trust is everything.
Do you mainly source from the secondary Japan market? If so, why?
Yes, Japan has always been one of our most important sourcing markets. The Japanese secondary luxury market is extremely mature, with strict regulations and a strong culture of care for personal belongings. As a result, many vintage pieces are preserved in remarkable condition. We also maintain deep connections with many auction houses and industry partners across Japan, allowing us to exchange insights and stay closely connected to developments within the global vintage market.
Over the past six years, as The Née Vintage Store has become more established locally, we have also begun sourcing more pieces from private collectors in Singapore and international markets around the world.
You’ve seen a heavy rotation of lots of different eras of fashion. Is there one that you never become weary of?
Personally, I have always been drawn to designs from the 1990s and early 2000s. Designers from that era created pieces with incredibly strong identity and craftsmanship. Whether it is Tom Ford’s Gucci, John Galliano’s Dior, or Karl Lagerfeld’s early Chanel collections, those works remain highly distinctive. There is a certain magic in that era that is very difficult to replicate today.
Has there been any piece you’ve sourced that was intended for the shop, but ended up in your own closet?
This actually happens more often than I expected. Sometimes when a piece arrives, you immediately realise that it is simply too special. It might be something you may never encounter again. Recently, I have become particularly fascinated with vintage jewellery from Japan’s Showa period. Every time I hold one of those pieces, it almost feels as if there is a quiet connection formed across time. That is the beauty of vintage—every piece carries its own story.
An interest in vintage is on the rise in 2026, what is the biggest change you’ve noticed in the business recently?
Five or six years ago, vintage was still quite a niche market in Singapore. Today, it has become far more mainstream and widely appreciated. However, it is also important to recognise the subtle differences between vintage luxury, thrift, archive fashion, and secondhand goods. There are many sellers today using the word “vintage” loosely, even when the pieces are not truly vintage. Consumers should stay discerning and make sure they are purchasing pieces that genuinely represent the spirit and quality of vintage.
Is there a certain bag that always outsells its competitors?
The Chanel Classic Flap will always have a strong presence in the market. Although, recently we have also seen growing demand for discontinued pieces, archive designs, and more distinctive vintage styles. Customers today are becoming more confident in expressing their own personal taste.
“That is the beauty of vintage—every piece carries its own story.”
Do you think the attitude towards vintage has changed in Singapore over this half decade?
The shift has been very noticeable. Several years ago, many people still associated vintage with simply being “secondhand,” or something purchased only because of a limited budget. Today, people increasingly see vintage as carefully curated pieces of fashion history and this change in perception is incredibly meaningful. Consumers are becoming more knowledgeable about fashion history while also paying greater attention to sustainable consumption. Vintage is no longer just a cheaper option—it is a more individual way of expressing personal style.
Why do you want to foray more into jewellery?
Vintage jewellery is incredibly fascinating because it brings together historical design, traditional craftsmanship, and collectible value. Many vintage jewellery pieces carry unique stories and cultural influences from the eras in which they were created. Compared to handbags, jewellery often holds stronger long-term value in both investment and durability terms. From a collecting perspective, it offers a different dimension of appreciation. Many well-known vintage jewellery houses have maintained consistent value growth over the years, and their influence within collector communities is quite significant.
If you were to start your vintage collection from scratch, what items would you invest in first?
The first step should always be understanding your budget. With a comfortable budget, I would recommend starting with iconic designs, for example, classic handbags, signature jewellery pieces, or designs from historically important fashion periods. Vintage collecting can be both emotional and strategic and trust me, once you start collecting vintage, it rarely stops at just one piece.
We are often haunted by things we didn’t buy and that saying goes even more so for vintage. What’s your advice when it comes to shopping in this space?
Try not to approach vintage purely from an investment perspective. If you do that, you might lose the original joy and emotional value of the piece itself. If you truly love something, don’t wait too long. The biggest difference between vintage and retail is simple: once it’s gone, it may never appear again.
While you do have an online store, you also offer the brick and mortar shopping experience. Why is that important?
Vintage is an extremely tactile category. Every vintage treasure deserves to be handled with care. Customers want to feel the leather, observe the details, and appreciate the craftsmanship up close. Our store is not just a place to shop, it is a space where people can discover vintage. And more importantly, buying vintage should not feel like buying secondhand goods. You are still buying luxury. Being able to enjoy luxury-level service while discovering pieces at more accessible prices creates a truly meaningful luxury experience.
What is the exciting new chapter for The Née Vintage Store?
We will continue expanding the world of vintage. Beyond handbags, we are increasingly introducing vintage jewellery, vintage watches, archive fashion, and rare collector pieces. At the same time, we are accelerating our presence in overseas markets, allowing more global clients and followers to experience The Née Vintage Store firsthand through pop-ups and our newly revamped website. We will also be venturing into wholesale business for sellers who want to source quality vintage pieces through us. Our goal is to build The Née Vintage Store into a destination where clients from around the world can discover the enduring charm of luxury across generations.
