Strolling up to the local thrift stores, scouring the racks and finding a vintage piece is the highlight of any thrift trip. However, this moment of joy is getting increasingly rare with the influx of fast fashion leftovers and retail markups on anything remotely good. For those left searching, there is a shop where every item is a gem of a find: Rag Parlor Vintage.
Rag Parlor Vintage believes “good fashion never goes out of style.” One look at their racks filled with assorted garments from the early 2000s to the 1940s proves this, as there is a ton of fashionable clothing. Customers can enjoy the shop decorated with memorabilia from all ages, hear soothing music playing and be greeted by shop owner Bea Rudkini, who shows off the clothes from years past.
Their racks of graphic tees are organized by color that unfurl in rainbow order, and they have jeans in every shade of blue. The sizing range is also incredibly inclusive, so customers do not have to face the disappointment of leaving empty-handed after trying on multiple items. Prices range from $10 on the sales rack to around $60, with most garments falling in the middle.
Rudkini talked about why he chose to open up Rag Parlor Vintage in San Antonio and dedicate the store specifically to vintage items.
“I started selling vintage [clothes] in 2019 at my college campus at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, stuff I would find at Goodwill,” Rudkini said. “I got really into 60s, 70s and 50s clothing, like classic union-made Americana type of stuff. I got obsessed with it. I decided to move back to where I was from, San Antonio, to be closer to more used clothing down by the border.”
Since September 2023, Rag Parlor Vintage has been a cozy spot for San Antonio thrifters looking for rare garments that last through time. Rag Parlor Vintage is constantly getting new stock while reducing the amount of clothes that end up in landfills.
“So, we [buy] wholesale from independent sellers that typically sell their stuff, either online or at markets. And since there’s not a huge true vintage scene in San Antonio besides us, a lot of that stuff comes over to us pretty cheap, and they end up coming through our doors, right? People trying to sell stuff to us, yeah? And then I’ll buy stuff from old connections that I still have from Virginia, up north [and the] west coast as well,” Rudkini said.
Rag Parlor Vintage is the spot to shop for vintage lovers. Rudkini wants people to “come shop, have a good time and make some cool, mix-and-match, unique pieces.”
Located at 4710 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209, Rag Parlor Vintage is 22 minutes away from UTSA. From dresses to sports tees and a revolving stock, this shop is the easy pick for those looking to browse and leave with a great find.
