Matthew Williamson - Silk & Cotton - Dress

My name is Filip and I was born in the late 90's in central Poland. I have loved fashion for as long as I can remember. When I look back at early years of my adolescence, I see myself watching fashion shows on the TV for hours, scrolling through websites like Tumblr on the Internet and digging in the second-hand stores to find something unique and beautiful. Back then, these were the only options for a boy from a working-class family to get a glimpse of the world that, at that time, seemed like a different, hermetic universe. Around 2017, when I just dropped out from art college, my two older sisters asked me if I would like to sell some of their clothes that they did not wear anymore… and so I did, and I liked it to the point that I decided to make a living out of it. First, I started by searching for gems in second-hand stores, while also learning about materials, cuts and fashion brands. It worked, but it did not take up all my time, so in the meantime I took a job in a small antique shop with furniture, porcelain, works of art, etc. The owner sold his collection online. It was thanks to him that I learned about Catawiki. When I noticed that fashion was there too, but fashion of the highest class, from the most expensive designers and brands, I started to crave to sell things of that quality as well. Things that I have always loved, but that seemed absolutely unavailable to me. Then I came up with an idea to start buying clothes and accessories from private people. And so, through trial and error, with many ups and downs, slowly building capital, building a network of contacts and regular suppliers, learning about quality and running a real business and gaining new knowledge about verification and recognition of authentic high fashion (with the invaluable help of Experts and Guardians from Catawiki, to whom I will be forever grateful), I started to build the philosophy of The Vintism. The process continues to this day. Currently, I work with a team of experienced specialists who every day, with great care and passion, prepare, photograph, describe, measure, pack and send our treasures to lead their new life with you for years to come. Our name "the vintage" is a neologism created from the word "vintage" and the suffix "-ism", usually used with philosophical doctrines, artistic trends or scientific concepts. But our brand is not a trend, nor a concept. It is a way of living and using fashion thoughtfully and responsibly. It is about choosing what already exists: to reduce the carbon imprint, to care for Planet Earth, and, last but not least, to pay less for beautiful things of highest quality - for things that, if handled with love, can last many, many years. Maybe even forever. It's simple. You are buying something that has already led a previous life. When you do not wear it anymore - you can sell or pass it further. It will not harm the Planet. It will not harm your pocket. It is a perfect solution. You can buy an expensive dress for just one special occassion- without any remorse!