Jacob Knight relocated his store in time for the City of Arcades events which lands on the four-year anniversary of its original opening
With renovation plans for Cardiff Market confirmed, prompting some stallholders to relocate, one vintage clothing trader has embraced the change, moving to the High Street Arcade and couldn’t be happier.
Owner Jacob Knight said this was the push he needed to move out of the market into his own space, where the Knight Vintage brand could benefit from the opportunity to stock more designer items and room to hold events.
The secondhand clothing collector celebrated the new premises with live music as part of the City of Arcades events from 14 to 16 November. The dates also marked the four-year anniversary of the original shop’s opening. He described the moment as “full circle” for his business.
The trader expresses gratitude for his time at Cardiff Market and the following he built there since 2019. “It was a perfect building block to get to where I am now,” he said. “I’m a firm believer in ‘Slow progress is the best progress.’ I had to work hard in Cardiff Market as almost a rite of passage before I could have a shop.”
Known as KV, Knight Vintage has become one of Cardiff’s most trusted vintage stores. Amid the city’s growing vintage scene, it stands out for its carefully curated selection.
The new space enables Jacob Knight to branch into more luxury pieces, moving away from: “Selling £100 Stone Island jumpers in a market where they sell fish and veg.”
For the 26-year-old, it felt like destiny. “This shop right now is what I wanted at the start,” he said.
Knight recalls falling in love with vintage clothing as a teenager, when the shop space he now occupies was owned by Blue Honey, a beloved former vintage store in Cardiff. “In this very shop I found my own style,” he said. “I fell in love with vintage. I found the first piece of clothing that made me feel like me.”
Having grown up in Llanishen, the local Cardiffian said he is committed to give back to those who supported him. He added: “This space gives me the opportunity to do live events, album releases, brand launches, art exhibitions, zine launches – anything for the community, really.”
Organisers For Cardiff said the City of Arcades events promote Cardiff as a “unique retail and leisure destination.” Events like these, they said, help raise awareness of the arcades’ role in the city’s retail culture.
Here’s a taste of Nathan Misra’s and Patchwork Picasso performance on the third day of the events:
The new space is a big contrast to the market, going from fluorescent lights and the loud chatter of trading from every direction to ambient lighting, warm red tones and smooth jazzy music. Here’s a playlist of what tunes Knight likes playing in the shop: