For three days (29th – 31st July) the Southbank Centre, London was taken back in time and revamped into the Southbank Vintage Festival, a Vintage by Hemingway production. Queen Elizabeth Hall, Royal Festival Hall, the Purcell Rooms and the BFI were all taken over, set dressed and transformed. Wayne & Gerardine Hemingway & the Hemingway Design Team created the Vintage Festival with the aim to commemorate the history of British Creativity – an authentic celebration of the music, fashion, art, design, film and food of the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
‘Vintage at Southbank Centre is a glamorous and cool antidote to festivals in a field, the emphasis being on head-turning style. Whether your thing is swing, rockabilly, mod, soul, funk, disco, ska, film, art of design, or if you just want to dress up and get an authentic make-over for a day. Vintage at Southbank Centre is a sensual delight, a big dressing-up box, a collectors dream and a joyous creative feast’ – Wayne Hemingway
When I arrived at the Southbank Vintage Festival I was met by crowds dressed head to toe in glamourous vintage clothing – instantly making the atmosphere special. Royal Festival Hall was my first destination, with all six levels transformed to showcase the best vintage clothing, art, design and musical talent. Once inside I found myself drawn to the Creative Workshops area – especially to the Mollie Makes stand; a new magazine that focuses on all things craft; making, collecting and thrifting. When I stopped by textile talent Scrapiana was teaching students how to make cute strawberry pin cushions. I also stopped by the St Bride Foundation Print Workshop who were teaching specialist letterpress printing to the public, using traditional techniques and machinery.
My personal highlight of the festival had to be the Vintage marketplace, as one of the free areas, this pop-up high street was a big attraction with tourists and celebrities a like. Nestled just below the London Eye, the marketplace was packed with the finest purveyors of vintage clothes, accesories, homewares, records and music memrobilia selling their wares. My first stop was to the Crown Paint Tea Room to see the new Crown Vintage inspired paints, exclusive to Homebase. The tea room was beautifully decorated with floral tablecloths, bunting and delicious cakes and tea courtesy of Jam and Tea. Crown Vintage paints have been created in association with Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway – inspired by the five decades of British cool – fitting in perfectly with the Vintage Festival. My favourite colours are the Pencil Skirt Grey from the 40s collection, and the Pin-Up Pink from the 50s collection and Beatnik Blue from the 60s collection. After admiring the treats on offer at the tea room, I went on to scout out the best vintage interiors talent on offer. Below are a few images of what I found:
1940’s Imperial cigarette cabinet and 1940s Shell petrol pump cabinet – both by Black & Perry
1930s Factory machinist light by Metro Retro. Polished aluminium spotlight on tripod stand, 1950s polished steel factory chest – both by Objectify.
Alvar Aalto model 44 chair from Fire Fly House. 1960s Twin childs desk from Objectify
