Second Hand Montreal: Up-cycling = Cool at The Backroom!

Let's start off this post the way any bad high school essay usually begins: with a definition. According to Wikipedia (our favourite source), up-cycling is defined as: "the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value." Like taking broken beer bottles and turning them into a gorgeous art-deco lamp. Or transforming a 90s girl-band T-shirt into a piece of haute couture.

Today, we (Nadine and Nikki) went to a cute little vintage/up-cycling shop fittingly called "The Backroom," since it is located at the back of a sweet little building on Lambert-Closse (https://www.facebook.com/thebackroommtl). Karen, Marie and Rachel, the three girls who run the shop, were throwing a special event for bloggers, like ourselves, and allowed us to photograph some of their creations. Yes, creations. Because they don't just buy and sell second-hand clothing. They actually alter (or up-cycle) them, making them "hip" and "to date" by adding rocker studs, pieces of fabric (lace and other materials) or cutting them up and transforming them completely. As a result, the prices are a tad more expensive than what we are used to paying at the mega stores (in the $20-$40 range), but that's only because they have put actual handy-work into these garments.

As you can see in the pictures below, the girls at the Backroom aim for an urban chic "baggy" flavour (think Mary-Kate Olsen), which means that most of their items fit all sizes. To make the experience less overwhelming for second hand shoppers, they carefully hand-pick all their pieces from places like Village des Valeurs, Salvation Army, and their own closets, with a goal of transforming designer labels into something more affordable, current and trendy. Some of the labels we were surprised to see included Saks Fifth Avenue, Ralph Lauren, Versace and Chanel jewelery.

What really struck us was how Karen, Marie and Rachel managed to reinvent and revive old pieces of clothing and make them fashionable again. Old-man slacks that your dad would wear became a pair of edgy shorts. It's easy to forget just how creative we can get with our clothing. You don't have to be a talented sewer (although it probably helps). With a needle and thread, a pair of scissors or a stud-gun, anything can be transformed.

It's not only about saving money guys. It's about having your own look that's yours, and knowing that no one else has done it or will do it again.

- Nadine