Fashion / americana
Kids in America
Dustbowl Vintage isn’t your usual vintage store: you won’t find any psychedelia or retro sportswear here. Holly Butterworth runs a tight ship, supplying rare mid-century menswear to collectors and enthusiasts of Americana.
Holly and her husband Colin are both enthusiastic collectors of all things Americana, and, as well as Dustbowl in Clifton Arcade, also own Uncle Sam’s American Vintage on Park Street. Together, they track down international wholesalers to top up their collections and sell it on in their shops. “I hit a rich seam of about 40 vintage Pendleton shirts a couple of weeks ago,” Holly says excitedly. “I’m still trying to work out where to display them all!”
is needed now More than ever
Dustbowl Vintage have been dressing Bristol’s finest since 2012, with many Americana enthusiasts escaping the high London prices to get a better deal in Bristol. “I get a lot of interest from theatre and TV costume departments and also fashion designers,” says Holly. “Military collectors also visit the shop, and I stock items from every decade since 1910. I have a WWII silk souvenir jacket hung up, which always gets people talking: it’s completely trashed and it makes you wonder what it went through to look like that.”
It’s not just Londoners that are buying their Americana goodies from Dustbowl either. “I send an awful lot back to the States, which I find incredible!”
Many of the garments at Dustbowl are well over 50 years old and have stood the test of time for quality and authenticity. “My current favourite piece is a 1950s buckskin suede tasselled jacket,” continues Holly. “Buckskin is quite a delicate leather and I love that it’s survived almost 70 years in near perfect condition.”
Holly doesn’t just sell the style – she lives it, rocking the mid-century ‘land girl’ look. “I dress for comfort, not speed!” laughs Holly. “I suppose I dress fairly simply and for practicality. You get no points for style when you’re knee deep picking garments out in a cold warehouse! Today I’m wearing 14oz duck cotton overalls, a striped Breton top and Thorogood roofer boots. Dry, warm, comfortable – and I’m fairly sure no-one else is wearing it!”
While the majority of Dustbowl’s customers are men, or women shopping for the men in their lives, Holly does sometimes meet fellow followers of fashion. “Occasionally, women who appreciate the style will come and shop, and I always end up having great chats with them. I’m very much of the opinion that if it fits and you like it, wear it! It doesn’t matter if it was originally made for a man or a woman,” says Holly.
Now that the cold weather is looming, what will Holly be wearing this winter? “I’m getting the most out of my 1960s big E Levis trucker jacket by wearing a wool Pendleton waistcoat over it,” she says.
“It’s in bright colours and the pattern is beautifully woven, so it looks great as well as being warm. I’m not really into being a walking advertisement, but Pendleton are such an iconic American brand and the quality means it will last for years.”
How does Holly see her Americana lifestyle brand fitting in with Bristol fashion? “I like that there are still ‘tribes’ here; you’ll still see proper punks, mods, rockabillies and plenty of young people with their own take on things. I love it when people make an effort and really go for it with whatever style they’re into,” she says. “I feel I cater for people who appreciate the quality and the details of a piece – a certain type of zip, the way a collar was cut or where a pocket sits – that set it apart from a modern copy. A lot of my customers are a bit older, so they tend to know what they like and what suits them.”
Whether you are a dedicated Americana fan or just looking for something new, Dustbowl Vintage is well worth a visit, it isn’t just a shop, it’s a lifestyle.
6, Clifton Arcade, Boyce’s Ave, BS8 4AA
Read our Fashion Editor Emma’s blog No Debutante
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