Temple Introduction
Old House x Vintage. Music and Cats "The most unrealistic small shop in Chiayi." In February 2017, the Old House introduced itself through its Facebook page. A couple who loves music and vintage clothing rented a timber store that had been idle for many years, filled with "vintage" items, and quietly displayed CDs from independent bands in a corner. Inside, there are two cats; the black cat rubs against its owner's legs for affection, while the yellow cat lies lazily on a step of a wooden ladder, occasionally yawning as if to say: "What is the significance of the world to me?" Kaihong, a university student studying fashion design, also has a career in music, and selling "vintage" is merely a hobby. He is particularly fascinated by Taiwanese vintage clothing from the 1980s and 1990s and has scoured flea markets across northern, central, and southern Taiwan. After accumulating too many items, he had to open a shop to let some go. He notes that at that time, Taiwan was one of the world's leading textile countries, and many global brands came to the island to find manufacturers for their ready-to-wear. Copyright awareness was weak during that era, leading to many imitations of the same designs and materials being produced by factories, some even using similar letters from well-known brands to deceive consumers. Those absurd logos, viewed today, are all "beautiful mistakes." In Chiayi, vintage clothing is a niche market, and Old House, with its focus on Taiwanese vintage clothing, is a niche within a niche. Image source: Chiayi City Government Tourism Bureau | Photography: Margot.
