Fashion design, throughout history has turned to previous eras for inspiration.
Vintage clothing retains and increases in value due to the fact that it is genuinely from a past era.
Vintage clothing allows the buyers to be their own designers because they can choose the different styles from second-hand clothing.
In addition, authentic garments are made one at a time, with enough attention to detail to create an item that has long lasting value.
“Garments closely resembling original vintage (retro or antique) clothing are mass-produced, for the most part, in China.”
An example of this is the simple slip dresses that emerged in the early 1990s, a style that resembles a 1930s design, but upon examination will show that it only superficially resembles the real thing. These styles are generally referred to as "vintage style", "vintage inspired" or "vintage reproductions".
They serve as a convenient alternative to those who admire an old style but prefer a modern interpretation.
People who wear vintage clothing look for designer brands and limited edition products to fit in the “vintage” category.
Sellers claim consumer advantage in that, unlike the original garments, they are usually available in a range of sizes and perhaps, colours and/or fabrics, and can be sold much cheaper.