The Village Squire, 1981-05, Page 6New Fashion
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old silks and satins, they're always good
sellers."
Why do people buy recycled clothing,
especially when they can afford to buy
what's fashionably new? Thompson
suggests it's because both the quality of
material in older fashions and the
workmanship is superior to what is now
manufactured. Synthetic fabrics, in her
opinion, •' are boring. even the silks today
aren't what they once were."
Right now, New Wavc. the punk look.
and anything "really bizarre" is in.
according to the shopkeeper. So is the
1940's look. At Puffin' On The Ritz you
can easily transform yourself into a Joan
Crawford -style vamp with a straight skirt
with a sexy slit up thc front or side. and a
distinctive dark jacket with the padded
shoulders. Should Joan's date be looking
for the same look. Sandy suggests
pleated pants for the gentleman, with a
.thin tie. pin-striped vest and of course.
the padded jacket. A while ago, Sanay
recalls, 1940's -style parties were the
rage, but now it seems to be the Fifties
look that partygoers are demanding -
bobby sox, saddle shoes, full skirts and
those itchy crinolines.
David Boynton and partner Les Mac-
Kay would agree with that sentiment.
After all, they've parlayed recycled
clothing, furniture and collectables into
two very successful shops - one on
Richmond Street, underneath a pinball
palace, the second on Talbot. While most
customers know the two shops as Layman
House, the actual title is Layman House
Rag Market and General Store. The
partners' slogan - "revival clothes at
survival prices."
Les MacKay and wife Candy started
the larger of the two stores seven years
ago with 100 pairs of jeans, 100 flannel
shirts, army surplus clothing and a
resident leather worker. Later they
expanded into more clothing styles and
"used records, which is a big drawing
card" according to Boynton.
In the summer, the storekeepers also
run a mobile operation, driving a busload
of collectables, clothes and records to folk
festivals around the province. The stores,
which Boynton says offer "clothes for
ordinary folks at good prices" - that's
where the name layman comes in - offer
PG. 4 VILLAGE SQUIRE/ MAY 1981
shoppers an alternative to Simpsons
and Eatons.'` It's true you can find just
about anything in the Richmond Street
store from flannel work skirts, to velvet
theatre capes. South Central American
ethnic fashions and collectables like a
metal Davy Crockett lunch bucket.
Boynton said while the store's original
customers were mainly "ladies" and
"folkie types", today customers can be
anyone between 16 to about 35 years of
age, including lawyers and businessmen.
Theatre London recently outfitted almost
an entire cast from the store's stock.
New Wave is one popular look, right•
now among customers. How to assemble
an outfit from the store's stock? Boynton
suggests a pair of mauve or yellow pants.
tight fitting at the waist and ankles.
matched with a red or bright blue top and
some eye -cathing jewellery. A guy,
looking for the "cool" Fifties look, can
pick up a wite shirt. thin black tic,
sneakers and a black leather jacket - sort
of a "Marlon Brando type look" Boynton
says.
While the partners buy most of their
stock from suppliers, Boynton said they
hand pick the items themselves, and
pretty well know what will sell. Unlike •
some shops. where the price tag is
sacred. the partners "try to keep as loose
as possible - most of our prices are
negotiable the storekeeper says.
"which is a nice thing to happen between
customer and retailer." When it comes to
bargaining, Boynton says the partners
"both like a sort of wheel and deal; -it's
fun. '
While Layman House seems like a
counter culture business that might have
gone the way of love -ins and flower
power, Boynton says "it's one of thc
alternate businesses in town that has
survived." Buying and selling record
albums. as well as clothing, hasn't hurt -
nor has the fact someone can still buy an
entire outfit at the shop for about $20.
Popular items include sport and
T-shirts, team shirts, blue jeans and of
course, fur coats. They're even more
popular than in the past. Boynton
speculates because furs have gone up so
much in price recently. At Layman
House, you can buy a fur jacket for as
little as $10.
The partners aren't worried about the
other used clothing shops. in somewhat
the same mold as Layman House.
opening in London. "We all survive
together. no one is trying to put anyone
else out of business." Besides, the
partners find Layman House has "it's
own image" and customers prove ,
faithful. Why? Boynton believes it's a
simple explanation - "people connect this
place with nostalgia."
Next winter, when this writer snuggles
deep down into her $20 Persian fur
jacket (that looks like new), feeling like a
Hollywood starlet. I'm going to thank my
lucky stars that "used" is in. ❑
Hats, hats, hats, used records and revival clothes - that's what David Boynton and
partner Les Mackay sell in their two Layman House shops. [Photo by Gibb]