“I curate vintage and thrift, inspired by ’90s, ’80s and early 2000s streetwear,” says Anna Campbell, the sole proprietor of The Loot, a new vintage shop in the former home of RIO (5781 Charles Street, behind EnVie).
Donning a vintage pair of black Air Max 95s, Campbell says that the store is a result of family and community support. “I’m really grateful that I’ve been able to have this opportunity, I definitely couldn’t have done it on my own. I have a big family, every one of my siblings has been in here helping me every day.”
Cleaned and pressed vintage clothing drapes the walls of the airy sunlit space, which opened officially at the end of April. With her favourite local shop Big Pony (which closed in 2017) on her mind, Campbell saw that there was a market in the city for a trendy and affordable alternative to fast fashion.
“Ever since they closed, I had it in my head. I drew a lot of inspiration from them—I have a lot of local inspiration,” she says while patting Lenny the shop dog, a customer favourite. “It is a beautiful space and I’m really lucky to be surrounded by well-known businesses and other young entrepreneurs in the building.”
Campbell has family and friends who source products for her throughout the Maritimes, leaving her to operate, manage and focus on the store itself. She aims to sell clothing that is made to last, saving it from ending up in a landfill and is committed to using the space to showcase local artists designers and up-cyclers.
“I try to make it a nice experience for people,” says Campbell. The Loot is open Tuesday through Sunday.