Daniel Perez spotted the orange-and-white Chalk Line jacket from across the arena, forcing his attention away from the Tennessee basketball game. As he made his way toward the cheering fan, he had one thought: "I need that jacket."
Perez, who has been in the vintage clothing business for more than 15 years, has only come across that Vols jacket three times. He offered $350, but no amount of money could convince the fan to part with the rare piece.
Standing out in a sea of orange and white can be difficult, said Perez, one of many vintage clothing store owners in Knoxville who fill their racks with shirts, jackets, hats and other pieces tailored to Vols fans looking to elevate their style with Tennessee pride.
With students returning to campus for
the fall semester and football season approaching, vintage clothing stores are making sure they source plenty of pieces to satisfy Volunteers fans.
How Knoxville vintage store owners source their retro Vols gear
Perez scours estate sales, yard sales and merch stands at sporting events to find the perfect items to stock Contra, the vintage clothing store he opened two years ago in the Old City. He was born and raised in Knoxville and knows the Volunteer spirit firsthand.
"I've saved some of this stuff for years," he told Knox News.
Customers are looking for retro university gear at all times of the year, he said, but there's an uptick in sales during the football season and when the Vols make it to March Madness. While Tennessee fans have their own stock of orange and white apparel, customers flood his store before special black-out games looking for that one perfect item.
"Vols fans have really wanted vintage clothing recently," he said. "They want to be unique."
Across the river on Sevier Avenue, Carly Baskette most often sees students shopping at her Mood Ring Vintage store before football games, though the demand for Vols gear persists throughout the year.
Mood Ring Vintage is comprised of more than 20 independent vendors, who each have their own preferred style and selections. But each vendor is bound to sell some sort of Vols gear, Baskette said, and that tends to be the case for all vintage stores in Knoxville. We are in Rocky Top, after all.
Baskette's vendors source vintage items from around the country, and many add their own touch by adding upcycled details.
"Mostly guys are more interested in actual old logos," she said. "They love cartoon Smokey, things like that, different graphics from back in the day."
Where to buy vintage Tennessee shirts and Vols gear in Knoxville
If you're looking for vintage Vols gear of your own, here are a few local stores to check out this fall:
- The Back Pocket | 105B W. Jackson Ave.
- Chic Vintage | 133 W. Jackson Ave.
- Contra | 125 S. Central St.
- Golden Threads | 445 S. Gay St.
- Mood Ring Vintage | 906 Sevier Ave.
- Nostalgia Bearden | 5214 Homberg Drive
- Nostalgia South | 4022 Chapman Highway
- Plugged In Vintage | 1715 Cumberland Ave.
- Retrospect Vintage Store | 1121 N. Central St.
- Wabi Wear & Repair | 122 S. Gay St.
Knox News reporter Joanna Hayes covers restaurants and retail for the business growth and development team. Email: joanna.hayes@knoxnews.com; Instagram: @knoxeat65. Sign up for Joanna's Eat65 email newsletter to get the latest drink and dining news, as well as restaurant recommendations, at knoxnews.com/newsletters.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Where to find vintage Vols gear so you can stand out in a sea of orange
