High-end vintage clothing store owner Guan Guan with clothes and fashion accessories at her store. Photos: Li Hao/GT

Timeless clothes, treasured memories

Feng grew up in Vienna, Austria, where her father regularly took her to flea markets in search for antiques. After she moved to Beijing, she was often sent to Los Angeles for work where she enjoyed spending her spare time hitting secondhand clothing stores.

Another young Chinese vintage clothes store owner who traces her fashion influences to the West is Guan Guan. Guan, who studied in Paris, turned her back on a career in the film industry to open her store, Old News, in 2011 in Wudaoying Hutong, Dongcheng district. The store sells women's high-end vintage wear, including items from labels such as Christian Dior, Versace and Chanel.

Guan buys much of her stock on shopping tours to Europe and Japan. Although it has long been established as chic overseas, vintage fashion is gradually appealing to more Chinese consumers, said Guan.

"Everyone likes to reminisce about the past. To many people, the previous age is the golden age. As for me, I just like old things. What's important is whether [an item of clothing] can accompany you in your journey through life. Many of my vintage clothes and accessories are associated with important moments in my life," Guan said.

Guan noted from time to time customers question whether clothes and accessories at her store are authentic or clean.

"Some people might consider [clothes at Old News] as trash that should be thrown away, but to me they are good. I believe the term 'foreign trash' is not entirely derogatory. If I can find something I like in a rubbish dump, I'll still like it. [Vintage clothes] are misunderstood by some people in China," she added.