New store with a vintage feel opens in Stratford

VINTAGE dresses, kimonos and crystals are just a few of the treasures in a new Stratford shop.

Flower Funky in The Minories off Henley Street, also sells bohemian skirts made from upcycled saris, hats, beaded necklaces and bracelets, hand-painted wooden earrings, costume jewellery, bamboo socks and purses made from cork.

Owner Kate Arnold upcycles and customises jackets with embroidered flowers and applique, and hand-makes brooches from recycled fabric.

Flower Funky started life as a market stall and pop-up, before moving to Banbury’s Lock 29.

As the business grew, Kate started looking around for a shop, so when she dropped in to see friend Rebecca Tracey, who runs the aromatherapy store a few doors up in The Minories, she learned there was a unit available.

Customising the “blank canvas” of the interior was easy, as she’s always collected quirky things. Beautiful saris and Indian sun umbrellas hang from the ceiling, while vivid pink- and red-haired mannequins look on.

A friend’s builder husband gave her some recycled doors she’s mounted, painted and decorated with applique wooden flowers to transform them into frames to showcase statement pieces.

With her sewing machine set up on site, she carries on working while customers wander in and out.

“It’s nice when they see me making – I think it adds to what I do,” she said.

Everything stocked is as eco-friendly as possible and is hand-selected from as far afield as Italy, Spain, the US and India.

Prices start from £2.50 for rings and simple bracelets, up to £80-ish for rarer vintage pieces.

Kate said: “There’s something for everyone here.

“I’ve got steam punk stuff and as there's quite a gothic vibe in Stratford, that’ll be another section I’ll grow.”

Kate’s creativity was nurtured by her grandmother who taught her to knit and sew, and her needlework skills also come from her Indian aunt, who was a seamstress.

“The saris I’ve got hanging upstairs and the Indian influence in here come from her,” she explained.

She was working as a florist before being hired to sew hats for milliner Louise Pocock, whose designs have featured in The Guardian, Good Housekeeping and on the BBC.

Kate said: “She’s amazing and very talented. It was there I learned how to make flower brooches. She’s been a mentor to me, and we’ve became very good friends.”

With Rebecca’s aromatherapy, the vegan Plantarium Café and self-confessed ‘nerdvana’ geek heaven shop Entourage as neighbours in The Minories, she says it “feels like my tribe here – it all fits nicely”.

There’s no such thing as a typical Flower Funky customer, according to Kate.

“I hand-pick the vintage, so it’s unusual and quite quirky and a lot of people who come to me are performers, like a guy in a band who gigs all over Europe – I see pics of him on stage wearing my stuff.”

Another musician who’s a big Flower Funky fan is Rebecca Mileham, violinist and vocals for contemporary folk rock band Liam Vincent and the Odd Foxes.

Rebecca, who lives near Banbury, praises Kate’s vintage skirts, shirts, dresses and waistcoats, as they’re so original.

But it’s not just musicians and the festival crowd who like Flower Funky’s style.

Kate added: “I sell to every age group – the oldest person I’ve had buy one of my customised jackets is 85. I think I tap into people's younger days, because of the stuff I do. I have middle-aged women coming to me who aren’t feeling very confident and I help them try on things they wouldn’t normally.

“It’s a joy to see them stepping out of their comfort zone.”

The shop has a changing room, and Kate encourages people to try on things, she says there is no pressure to buy and it’s also a safe space for LGBQT+.

“Because I’m a bit different, my customer base is very diverse. This shop is perfect for what I need and I’m chuffed to be here.

“Stratford is so vibrant and there’s a lot more tourism here than in Banbury, so I feel there’s a lot more potential to grow.”