Wander Around Camden Lock And You’ll See Vintage Wingbacks With Cracked Leather. They’ve Got Stains And Creaks But That’s What Gives Them Life

London’s Retro Revival: Why Vintage Armchairs and Sofas Still Rule Retro chairs and sofas have been part of my life for years. We had an old floral sofa that was patched and sagging. It weren’t showroom-perfect, but it felt alive. In the days of smoky pubs fabric and leather couches jazz clubs, you didn’t buy throwaway chairs. Families saved for months to buy one piece. It’s in the sag of the springs. I found a retro accent chair in a Dalston car boot. The legs were wobbling, but the history spoke louder than the flaws.

Friends always fight to sit in it. You can tell the area by the chairs. Belgravia keeps it polished, with grand accent chairs. Brixton thrives on colour, with mismatched sofas. The clash gives it character. The catalogue stuff has no soul. Old-school sofas grow with you. They carry scratches like tattoos. At the end of the day, a battered sofa tells more truth than any showroom. Your seat should outlast the years. When you walk past a glossy showroom, go dig through a car boot.

Save a battered seat, and let it grow with you.