MOVIE posters, brutalist structuring, and a ton of one-of-a-kind clothing—these are the things that first stand out when visitors enter Creative Director Fed Pua’s store in Salcedo, Makati. It’s an upscale thrift store that goes by the name It’s Vintage.
It has been known in the past for selling items online and then holding different pop-up events all throughout Metro Manila, and lovers of the store’s pieces rejoiced when Pua finally put up a physical store back in 2020. Even when it later transferred to Salcedo Street in Makati, it continued to get the same, if not even more, support from followers.
It’s been a wonderful journey for Pua.
“I learned that you can’t wait for the ‘perfect’ moment to launch something because there never is a perfect time to launch; you do your best and learn through the process. Ultimately, I am super proud of the past 5 years of growing, loving, and learning through the shop,” Pua told republicasia.
Aside from running It’s Vintage, he is also a designer.
After working as the Creative Director of Factory Boy, he later released a line of clothing reminiscent of the Y2K era under his brand Atomic World. It has reworked items and rows upon rows of everything denim, from tops to bags to jeans.
The creativity in this brand is unlike what is seen in many typical Filipino fashion brands, which is why it’s no surprise to see Pua’s creative touches in both the design of the new branch of It’s Vintage as well as the curation of the items available at the store.
Cute baby tees with cartoon characters, sleek racer jackets, oversized polos, snug grandpa-esque vests, and so many more items can be found at the store; its range seems to be never-ending. There is, quite literally, something for everyone.
Take a gander
In an earlier interview with Inquirer Lifestyle, Pua recounted that he first got the idea to make a store like It’s Vintage back when he was in Tokyo. Before then, he admitted that he often dressed like a normie because he felt that the clothes he’d seen at the time never really resonated with him.
But when he stumbled upon a vintage store in Tokyo, he immediately fell in love. Suddenly, it was as if a world of new possibilities had been opened up to him—finally, he found dressing up to be fun. The idea of It’s Vintage followed suit after that, making up the store that so many know and love now in Makati.
The prices for the different pieces being sold at the store vary considerably, given their large, diverse collection. Items may go from as low as P990 to as high as P14,990 depending on the quality and rarity of whatever’s being sold.
While it may seem like a large sum to others, it’s important to remember that all the items found within the store are curated and handpicked by Pua and his team.
And if they’re not handpicked, they’re created entirely by the team at It’s Vintage, whole rework old clothes and turn them into cheongsams, tops, and sports bras galore.
Pua simply describes the process of choosing items as finding what he feels would go in his dream closet.
That takes grueling hours of hard work and attention to detail. In turning the shop into a reality, Pua admitted that it’s the fruit of numerous days of hard work, sleepless nights, and immense overthinking, but also of laughter and joy as he learned the ins and outs of the business.
More than that, each piece is unique and is only available for purchase in their store. This isn’t like a fast fashion shop you can find at any mall, where there are rows and rows of the same item in stock. That’s part of the beauty of shopping for thrifted items: you’re sure nobody else will have the same piece, which is perfect for those who have a grueling individuality complex.
A part of the beauty of shopping at the store is the warm atmosphere, too.
“Apart from our pieces, we really want people to experience the brand through the entire shopping experience, from the music we play, the scent of the space to the best staff you’ll ever meet,” Pua shared.
If you’re looking for a place that gets rid of the long periods of time spent shuffling through item after item as you drown in sweat at your local ukayan, this shop is a great place to visit.
Loved by many
According to Pua, people of all demographics frequent the store. It’s not just for Gen Zs and millennials; with vintage clothing, there’s no need for an age limit.
What one may notice immediately, though, is just how popular the shop seems to have gotten amongst local influencers and celebrities.
One quick scroll through the shop’s Instagram page will show photos of people like photographers BJ Pascual and Shaira Luna, fashion models Justine Llarena and EJ Nacion, director Samantha Lee, and a number of other well-known personalities just hanging out at Pua’s store.
He said with the many customers who frequent his shop, he’s never once paid anyone to sponsor it, which is something that he’s extremely proud of.
“It still shocks me today how many people I look up to drop by the store,” he admitted.
“Apart from having a really good curation of pieces, we treat everyone the same, and we treat everyone with love, which is why I feel like a lot of people in general gravitate towards the shop,” he said.
For Pua, It’s Vintage is more than just a shop. He views it as a means of representation and support for small local spaces that serve as a safe place for people, especially the LGBTQ+ community, which he’s a part of.
Come on down
It’s Vintage is open every day from 11:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. and is located at the Casmer Building on 195 Salcedo Street in Makati. If you see the 7-Eleven store, just cross the street, and you’ll find it.
At present, Pua is in the US, working hard to handpick pieces that he’ll be bringing back to the Philippines in the near future. He said that opening up another shop is something he hopes to happen in the future, so for those that want to visit the store but are too far away, be sure to stay tuned.
