With a bold purple paint job, Cork’s newest vintage shop opens this week in Clonakilty
You can’t miss it.
A shop front in the centre of Clonakilty has been given a colourful makeover; the town’s first all-ages vintage shop, Granny’s Drawers Vintage & Retro is now open at 28 Ashe Street.
The business, which will stock men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing from the 1940s to the 1980s, is a new venture for Ali – Jane Crampton, a former model and longtime high-end vintage collector who also studied law at King’s Inns.
Ali and her husband, Stu, play in a band called The Water Gypsies, a regular fixture in local bars such as Fisher’s and DeBarra’s. Together with the younger of their twelve children, they’ve decided to embrace West Cork life on a permanent basis.
“We have spent many years coming to West Cork but moved here lock, stock, and barrel a year ago,” Ali-Jane told Yay Cork.
“Myself, my husband Stu, and five of our 12 children. Not to mention one cat and three German Shepherds. The remaining kids have left the nest.
” I suppose you could say I have a lot of life experience to bring to a new business. My older children will help out in the shop so I guess it’s a family-run thing. We love West Cork, especially Clonakilty, and have come to make a huge amount of friends here.”
Vintage for everyone
Ali-Jane has her sights firmly fixed on filling a gap in the market in Clonakilty.
“The shop is not about the tourist season but about the community. I will cater for all ages. I do feel the teenage and early 20s age group are not really catered for in the locality. We will have everything from Docs to Gucci shoes. Also accessories of different types.” she told us.
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“I really hope that Granny’s Drawers will provide a nice environment for people to come in and feel relaxed and welcome. If someone is looking for someone we don’t have we will do our very best to source it for them. At a later point, we hope to run up styling classes to show everyone how easy it will be to change pre-loved into still-loved.
“I will also be buying in pre-loved designer clothing from anyone who would like to sell them on. Everyone has at least one item of clothing that they either bought for a wedding or black tie event and will never wear again.
“Vintage is so good for the environment and so much better than fast fashion.”
Granny’s Drawers Vintage & Retro opens from 10am to 5pm at 28 Ashe Street, Clonakilty P85 N974.
