Q&A with Jo Watts
Jo Watts runs a vintage clothing stall on Portobello Road Market that sells hand knitted jumpers, hats, socks, gloves, and retro homeware. Jo tells us about the stall.
Tell us about your business - what do you sell, when did you start, how long have you been trading at Portobello market? How did you get into fashion? What inspired you to start selling vintage clothing?
I sell mostly a mixture of new & used hand knitted blankets & children’s/adult items (generally jumpers and in winter hats, scarves, gloves & socks). I also have a varied selection of deadstock (unworn vintage) mostly children’s clothing with some adult’s items as well (mostly tops). The amount I bring to the market each week varies depending on how much room I have in the car. I also sometimes bring things like vintage educational school posters from the 50’s as well as enamelware & china etc, but clothing is my main focus.
I’ve been trading at Portobello as a permanent trader on a Friday for just over three years. I trade on Saturdays too as a casual trader if I have months when I am not too busy doing other stuff. Oddly I never used to sell clothing at all and stumbled into it by chance. I was waiting for a large delivery of hand knitted blankets when I opened the boxes to see I had been sent hand knitted children’s jumpers by accident. I don’t knit myself as I don’t have the time but LOVE hand knitted items. I get a real buzz going out of my way to source and sort through them. My favourites are Arran, Fair Isle & mohair. I also a trade at Ezra Street Vintage Market by Columbia Road Flower Market in Hackney on Sunday and have been there for years. Over time my selling stock has really changed. I never used to sell children’s clothing at all but discovered that I enjoyed recycling my daughter’s old clothing. When that ran out I came up with trying to find vintage children’s clothing. For me, the process of searching for vintage children’s knitwear is exciting.
What are your hopes or aspirations for when things return to normal? What are your thoughts on Portobello as a place?
I’ve desperately missed being able to trade at Portobello due to lockdown so am excited at the prospect of being able to get back to normal. I lived in Notting Hill for years many years ago. It holds a very special place for me in my heart. Even when I moved to East London twenty years ago, I still did a Sunday morning market stall at Portobello selling a mixture of books & enamelware! It’s a very special place!