Fashion / Vintage clothing
Barbershop opens vintage boutique
A long-standing barbershop has doubled up as a vintage boutique.
Giggsy’s Barber Shop has marked its 25th anniversary this year and is still going strong with scores of loyal patrons.
Giggsy’s, a mainstay on St Michael’s Hill for a quarter of a century, has transformed the unused space behind the barbers into a boutique selling vintage clothing, shoes, sunglasses and books.
Owner Stephen Antsey – known to friends and customers simply as Giggsy – has turned his love of nostalgic finds into a new side hustle that is already attracting curious passers-by, especially from the nearby university.
The new vintage shop inside Giggsy’s Barber Shop boasts of an eclectic collection – photo: Milan Perera
The new shop, Dive Bar Vintage Shop, features an eclectic mix of collectibles from Star Wars trainers to Levi’s denim and women’s clothing.
A popular local barber, Giggsy is also known for his other passion as well – rock ’n’ roll. He plays with the band The Kings of Outer Space, performing regularly at bars and pubs.
His love of everything from 1940s swing to 1990s Britpop is reflected in the vintage collection.
Speaking to Bristol24/7, Giggsy said: “It’s a shame that the space at the back was left unloved after the pandemic, so I thought, why not turn it into a vintage clothing store?
“Most people love a bit of vintage, don’t they? We’ve only been open three days and the response has been good.”
On the growing popularity of retro sportswear, he added with a laugh: “I gave away so many of my old football shirts — maybe I should’ve kept them! But at least they went to good homes.”
Fellow business owner Vanina Shoemark, who runs Les Fleurs, looked pleased to have bagged a bargain – photo: Milan Perera
Currently runs as a pop-up shop, but Giggsy is weighing his options to make it a permanent fixture.
Just a few doors down from Giggsy’s is Suchitoto Vintage, another independent shop adding to the area’s growing retro scene.
According to Giggsy, many people unsure what to do with their old clothes, or who don’t want the hassle of selling online, are bringing them in to sell on a commission.
“It’s a win-win,” he said. “The money stays in the city instead of going to a big company somewhere else — and people can have a good rummage and maybe find a little gem.”
Giggsy’s Barber Shop has been a mainstay of St Michael’s Hill for the last 25 years – photo: Milan Perera
Fellow business owner Vanina Shoemark, who runs Les Fleurs, agrees. Browsing through the racks, she smiled as she found a vintage top she couldn’t resist.
Main photo: Giggsy’s Barbers
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