Barnsley vintage clothing wholesaler aims to take on the international market

A vintage clothing entrepreneur has transformed his small student venture into a global Barnsley-based business.

After selling charity shop purchases on eBay about 12 years ago, John Hickling now runs a company that employs 14 people and operates a 23,000 sq ft warehouse and distribution centre, which supplies more than 200 wholesale customers with recycled, upcycled and remade clothes.

Over the past six years, sales at Glass Onion Vintage have seen major growth and are expected to continue to rise as John and his team expand their customer base and court new suppliers in the USA.

The expansion at Glass Onion Vintage is now receiving support from Barnsley Business and Innovation Centre (BBIC) through the Enterprising Barnsley programme, which is funded by Barnsley Council.

The company, established by John in 2006, moved to its new HQ at Strafford Industrial Park, in Stainborough last year, after outgrowing its previous premises at Barugh Green.

High Street giants Urban Outfitters, River Island and Lush cosmetics, are among Glass Onion Vintage’s existing customers.

Furthermore, the company sources over 20,000 kilograms a month from major recycling companies across the UK and Europe. John and the team have gone into these partner companies and trained staff to spot potential vintage items.

Glass Onion then processes – recycles, upcycles and remodels - vintage jeans, jackets, dresses and skirts and sells them on in ten kilo bulk packages to a range of vintage clothing retailers and market traders.

As well as selling clothing via the company’s website to Japan, Sweden, Holland and Chile amongst others, exports represent about ten% of sales today and John aims to double this figure in the next couple of years.

John created Glass Onion Vintage in 2006, and now there are plans to create two or three new jobs in the next few years as sales increase.

Kevin Steel, Enterprising Barnsley’s business development manager at BBIC said: “Glass Onion Vintage have identified a niche in an international market for recycled goods and very quickly maximised the specialist know-how and contacts they have under their belt.

“They are vintage clothing pioneers and we look forward very much to seeing this Barnsley company grow further with the recycling industry of the future.”

John also commented: “I am off to the States next month to try and develop relationships with clothing recycling companies over there as new US legislation is about to make it illegal to put unwanted clothing into landfill; so they expect much more to enter the recycling industry process.

“Recycled clothing is becoming big business globally – vintage has evolved over the years and interest in good quality rescued or re-fashioned garments has become more mainstream.

“Plus, I think the impulse to reduce waste, make the best use of resources and develop a greener economy is becoming integral to all aspects of our lives.”