A long-standing love of the vintage and the retro has led to a new treasure trove of furniture and other goods from bygone decades for the Illawarra. Subscribe now for unlimited access . Login or signup to continue reading On Saturday, August 10 couple Matt English and Kim Seet opened the doors of their standalone shop in Fairy Meadow, Supertrash.
Mr English had been trading for the past 15 years in the Illawarra, most recently from the now-shuttered Fairy Meadow Antique Centre. When the lease at the centre expired, Mr English and Ms Seet decided to branch out on their own. Supertrash is filled with furniture - primarily mid-century and Art Deco - as well as homewares, collectables, records, and clothing.
The warehouse space on the corner of the Princes Highway and Jardine Street is styled by Ms Seet, a designer. The shop has also partnered with tradespeople to offer timber restoration and reupholstering of old furniture. Until three years ago, Mr English was a part-time cookery teacher at TAFE who supplemented his income buying and selling vintage items.
"My love for mid-century furniture and just about anything from that period really took off," he said. It is the beauty and quality craftmanship of goods from that period that he especially appreciates. "They've lasted, they've stood the test of time," Mr English said.
Vintage furniture might have bumps and scuffs, but he said "it's had a story, it's had a life". Not only that, but he said it was more sustainable than buying.