1. Describe your collection/offering in three words…
Grunge. Utility. Distressed.
2. What motivated you to start your business?
403RCHVE was created as a world where I could bring together my passions for photography, styling and creative direction. Rather than treating them as separate disciplines, I wanted to combine them into one creative practice. Fashion became the medium through which I could build narratives, explore identity and create imagery that feels intentional, immersive and emotionally resonant. 403RCHVE is a platform for expressing a point of view, where every garment, image and collection contributes to a larger story and reflects the style and values that define the brand.
3. What excites you the most about shopping for vintage fashion?
What excites me most about shopping for vintage fashion is the element of surprise. There’s a real sense of treasure hunting, you go in without knowing exactly what you’ll find, and that’s what makes the experience so rewarding. When you do come across something special, it’s often genuinely rare or one of a kind. That gives the piece a sense of significance that you don’t often get with mass-produced clothing. It feels personal, almost like you’ve discovered something that was waiting to be found. Vintage fashion has also helped me define my own style. Because you’re working with what’s available rather than following seasonal trends, you’re forced to make choices based on what genuinely resonates with you. You naturally develop a wardrobe that’s much more individual and authentic. That’s something I find incredibly exciting and inspiring.
4. What advice do you have for someone shopping for something special?
My advice for someone shopping for something special would be to strike a balance between intention and openness. It’s great to have an idea of what you’re looking for, but some of the best finds happen when you’re willing to let go of rigid expectations. I think those are the two pillars of finding something truly special: knowing what resonates with you, while staying open to the unexpected. Vintage shopping is all about discovery, and often the pieces you end up loving most are the ones you never set out to find.
5. Is there an item you dream of owning?
Dirk Bikkembergs AW1996 bungee metal cut heel boots
6. What’s your prediction for trends for the year ahead?
Predicting trends is always difficult because style is so subjective. At the moment, we’re really passionate about distressed pieces. We celebrate garments that already carry a history and then pushing that narrative further through considered distressing. We’ve been sourcing slightly damaged designer T-shirts and reworking them by hand, and that’s become a real part of 403RCHVE’s DNA. We’re seeing people respond to pieces that feel lived-in, imperfect and full of character. I think there’s a growing appreciation for clothing that tells a story rather than looking pristine. Those imperfections create conversation, they encourage people to look twice and see value in something that isn’t traditionally considered perfect.
If I had to make a prediction, I’d say we’ll continue to see a shift towards clothing with more individuality and authenticity. Pieces that feel worn, repaired or intentionally distressed offer something beyond aesthetics. They carry personality, history and emotion.
8. What's the weirdest place you've sourced an item from?
The craziest piece I’ve ever sourced was an incredible Rick Owens wool coat that I found in a charity shop in Cornwall. It was years ago, and I genuinely couldn’t believe what I was looking at. I remember feeling like I was having an out-of-body experience. It’s not the weirdest place to find clothes, but finding a piece like that in a small charity shop was completely unexpected, and it’s still one of my favourite sourcing moments.
9. How do you decide what's good enough for your collection?
At the heart of the brand is this idea of finding beauty in ruin, celebrating imperfection, wear, and the stories that garments carry. That naturally shapes how I source. I tend to gravitate towards pieces that stand apart from the polished, perfect aesthetic. I’m much more interested in clothing that feels lived in, unfinished, or has the potential to become something even more unique. I source pieces from designers and brands such as Diesel, Vivienne Westwood and Rick Owens, whose work embodies the raw, unfinished and imperfect. I lean towards darker tones, mostly black, grey and white, working with shades rather than bold colours. Beyond that, I love utilitarian and technical details—extra zips, functional construction, exposed seams, distressed leather, or pieces that feel industrial and purpose-built. It’s those small imperfections and functional elements that give a garment depth and make it feel truly individual. Ultimately, sourcing is an intuitive process. Every piece has to feel like it belongs within the world of 403RCHVE and reflect the brand’s core values, identity and style.
10. What's the one or two details that you look out for that others might miss / not value?
The details I notice are often the ones other people overlook or even see as flaws. I’m drawn to faded fabrics, raw hems, repaired areas, natural distressing, uneven wear, and garments that have developed real character over time.
