Found treasures
Welcome to BellaBean Vintage
Jenny Cookson’s love of second-hand shopping started early. Walking home from primary school took her past a Cats Protection League opportunity shop. She visited most days and spent her small amounts of pocket money buying old buttons and trinkets. As a teenager – funded by an after-school cleaning job and later full-time work – she shopped in iconic vintage Christchurch institutions like the Atlantis Market and Shand’s Emporium. At 15 she bought a 1950’s white satin wedding dress from a vintage shop called Tete a Tete. She wore it till it was trashed.
Jenny loved the eclectic mix of fabrics, patterns and colour, something not found in most chain stores. In vintage stores there is nothing guiding your choice except your own personal taste. She became addicted to the freedom of vintage shopping, and developed a knack for spotting good quality and so her extensive personal vintage collection began.
An opportunity to buy a large quantity of exceptional vintage led to the start of BellaBean Vintage in 2011. BellaBean stocks items from the 1930s to the 1990s with a little high end modern designer thrown in. Jenny is passionate about sharing her love of vintage fashion with the world, and began curating vintage catwalk shows from her extensive collection.
Runway Shows
Upcoming and past runway shows
Common Threads, August 2021 POSTPONED - New dates to be announced
BellaBean Vintage is proud to present Common Threads, a fundraiser for the Christchurch School of Music. Join us for a fantastic evening where Fashion meets Art meets Music. A colourful and unique fashion show from BellaBean Vintage matched with the beautiful art of Louise Henderson and Reuben Paterson and accompanied by live music from the fabulous Jennine Bailey with Tom Rainey, Pandemonium Percussion and Cameron Sloan on guitar along with groups from the Christchurch School of Music, this will be an event not to be missed.
A Colourful Past, August 2020
Set in the beautifully restored Great Hall at The Arts Centre, A Colourful Past was an unforgettable evening of fashion and flair. BellaBean Vintage and Tiger Vintage showcased a colourful homage, celebrating the love affair that is vintage and sustainable clothing. The collections represented a mix of old and new, reminding us of the beautiful freedom that has always been found in dressing with individual flair. The modern interpretation of time0honoured pieces were not only works of art, but most importantly, showed that style does not have to cost the earth.
Our store
BellaBean Vintage
The Woolston Emporium
Junk & Disorderly Collective
200 Ensors Road
Christchurch 8023
Mon - Sun 10am - 4pm