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Retro Kimono (Red Brick Market, Birmingham)

A compact, curated stall of authentic vintage kimono and Japanese curios tucked inside Digbeth’s Red Brick Market.

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Retro Kimono is a specialist vintage kimono and Japanese-inspired curios stall housed within Digbeth’s indoor Red Brick Market in Birmingham. The shop offers authentic and affordable antique and second‑hand kimono, small decorative items, pins and textile goods sourced from Japan, arranged in a compact, colourful display that feels like a tiny cabinet of curiosities amid the market’s industrial-chic aisles.

A brief summary to Retro Kimono | Red Brick Market Birmingham

  • Red Brick Market, 119 Floodgate St, Birmingham, Deritend, B5 5SU, GB
  • Visit website
  • Duration: 0.25 to 1 hours
  • Mid ranged
  • Environment icon Indoor
  • Mobile reception: 4 out of 5
  • Monday 10 am-6 pm
  • Tuesday 10 am-6 pm
  • Wednesday 10 am-6 pm
  • Thursday 10 am-6 pm
  • Friday 10 am-6 pm
  • Saturday 10 am-6 pm
  • Sunday 11 am-6 pm

Local tips

  • Bring a small bag for delicate finds and ask staff about the condition and care history of any vintage textile you’re considering.
  • Inspect seams and linings for repairs when buying older kimono; many pieces are sold as wearable but may need gentle restoration.
  • Check the market’s hours before visiting—Red Brick Market typically opens daily but Sunday hours can differ—so plan around the market’s schedule.
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Retro Kimono | Red Brick Market Birmingham location weather suitability

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A miniature cabinet of Japanese textiles

Retro Kimono occupies a modest footprint inside the Red Brick Market yet makes the most of vertical shelving and hanging rails, turning a tight space into a visually rich display of patterned silk, cotton and woven fibres. Rolls of obi, folded furisode and neatly layered vintage kimono sit alongside small accessories—ceramic pins, fabric remnant bundles and hand‑stitched trinkets—so that the shop reads like an intimate, walk‑through sampler of Japanese dress traditions and craft techniques.

The provenance behind the pieces

Items on the shelves are presented as curated finds rather than mass-produced souvenirs: many garments are reclaimed, repaired or re-fashioned, carrying evidence of use—faded indigo, patched seams and hand‑stitched linings—that tells a quiet story of age and care. The stock mix commonly includes kimono of varying eras and formality, shorter haori jackets, obi belts and small decorative objects imported from Japan or altered locally to appeal to collectors and those looking for wearable statement pieces.

A stall with market personality

Situated among the market’s eclectic stalls, Retro Kimono benefits from the venue’s red‑brick industrial shell and gallery‑style layout. The surrounding market atmosphere—a miscellany of vintage clothes, independent craft stalls and local food offerings—frames the shop’s character: it’s both specific in focus and cooperative in spirit, contributing to the market’s treasure‑hunt experience while remaining recognisably its own specialist nook.

Textures, colours and the sensory feel

The visual impact here comes from repeating patterns and saturated colours: florals, geometric motifs and traditional Japanese imagery in silk and cotton prints. Touchable textures—slippery silk, crisp woven cotton and aged linen—encourage a slow, tactile browsing style. Small details such as brass pins, enamel badges and printed tags add punctuation to the textile display, inviting closer inspection and lingering appreciation of craft and pattern.

Who finds value here

Retro Kimono draws those who appreciate textile history, costume collectors, vintage-fashion enthusiasts and anyone wanting one-off wearable pieces with an authentic feel. Its inventory also suits shoppers seeking small gifts—novelty pins, remnant packs or reworked textile accessories—that carry a sense of provenance without requiring the commitment of a full traditional garment.

Practical character notes

Opening times generally align with the Red Brick Market’s daily hours, and the stall is part of the market collective system where a central payment desk may operate. The shop’s compact layout means items are presented densely; allow time to peer through layered garments and small boxes. Staff and owners tend to be knowledgeable about the pieces and their origins, and the shop’s scale makes it feel personal and specialist rather than commercial.

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