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Blue Rinse, the Leeds vintage emporium that began as a market stall

Blue Rinse, the Leeds vintage emporium that began as a market stall
Illustrative image: Pexels

Ask anyone who has shopped for vintage in Leeds over the past quarter of a century and the chances are they will mention Blue Rinse. The business has dressed generations of students, musicians and style-conscious locals, and it remains one of the city's best-loved independents.

Blue Rinse was founded in 1997 by brothers Mick and Jeff Barnett. Its roots lie in a small stall at Leeds Kirkgate Market, and the idea grew from the brothers' own experience as teenagers, when they did not have the money to buy new clothes.

From those beginnings the business found a home on Call Lane, where its three-floor shop at 9 to 11 Call Lane became a destination. It served vintage lovers for 25 years and was the start of a name that soon became known across the country.

That original store eventually closed when the brothers gave up the lease, with rising rents and the development around the Corn Exchange given as reasons. Blue Rinse later moved into a new unit across the road, keeping its connection to the street where it all started.

The business has grown well beyond Call Lane. It expanded to Manchester, and in 2023 opened a second Leeds site inside the Merrion Centre in the Arena Quarter.

The appeal is easy to understand. Vintage shopping offers clothes with character, often at a fraction of the cost of new, and it keeps good garments in use rather than heading to landfill. Blue Rinse was championing that idea long before it became fashionable.

It is also a great example of a Leeds business growing from the ground up. A market stall run by two brothers has become a fixture of the city's style scene, and a regular stop for visitors exploring the city's independent shops.

Blue Rinse regularly features in local guides to vintage shopping in Leeds, a sign of how firmly it is woven into the city's identity.

Blue Rinse can be found on Call Lane and in the Merrion Centre in Leeds city centre. It is worth leaving plenty of time to browse, as the rails reward a patient hunt.