It's shops like this that give Heaton Moor its charm. 

Rosemary Lane Vintage is a 'teeny, tiny' clothes shop nestled on a leafy street just next to Heaton Chapel train station. 

It specialises in 'one-off, hand-picked gems'; everything from sheepskin coats straight from the '60s, to long, ethereal art-nouveau dresses, and everything in-between. There are even some affectionately-named 'granddad cardigans'. 

Owner Kathryn has been on-site in this quaint little hut for around a year and a half. 

"I've always worked in vintage shops, so I've always had a love for vintage fashion and 'old stuff'", she said. 

Nonetheless, for her, setting up shop in Stockport was still something of a spontaneous move.

"I took a gamble, really. I set off working for myself. I felt like I'd been stagnating for a while, doing the same thing, and that it was time for a change. It is certainly hard, but I've been enjoying the challenge.

And why this style of clothing? "I like the quality of older items", Kathryn said. "And of course the aesthetic, for me, is so visually appealing."

For Kathryn, this is an interest which started in childhood. "My mum brought down a suitcase of old clothes that she used to wear", she says. "She had this old, handmade, Ulster tartan dress that she wore, this pair of cords… 

"So much stuff, and I just fell in love with those clothes that she kept from the 60s and 70s. I think that's where the interest came from."

Nor is this just a question of style. The fact that many of these items are pre-loved and remarkably well-made means they offer a compelling alternative to less sustainable clothes. 

As Kathryn says: "With sustainable fashion being so big, vintage clothes are coming into their own. Fast fashion is a load of rubbish!"

Perhaps you want to capture the musty, bookish style of the 'dark academic', or perhaps some of the kaleidoscopic haze of the '70s. Maybe a confident flash of the '60s or a long fur coat to show you mean business. 

Whatever your aesthetic, Rosemary Lane Vintage is most certainly worth a try.

You can find it at 9 Tatton Road South, or you can shop online HERE.

Stay up to date with new items and offers on the Rosemary Lane Instagram page HERE.

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