RICHMOND, Va. — If you asked Damien Chew about 1980s and 1990s fashion, he would simply say, “they were killing the game.”
To Chew, they were probably killing it so much, that he decided to open a store dedicated to vintage men’s fashions from those decades.
Chew’s boutique, Dames, in Richmond’s Lakeside neighborhood, sells handpicked vintage, sneakers, and accessories all from the 1970s to 2000s.
Customers, many of whom are friendly with Chew and his employees, drop in to shuffle through his collection or some bring in their own items to sell.
Now why get into reselling vintage clothing? Chew says it’s because the clothes usually have a meaning behind them.
“It lasts longer, it has a story behind it, the quality is better, it looks better,” Chew said. “I don’t like fast fashion.”
Dames is a fairly new boutique, opening its doors on Lakeside Avenue in February 2023. Chew says its location in the Lakeside neighborhood is important for not only his store but for people who look like him who live in the area.