The Thrift Club, which specialises in reworked and upcycled vintage items, was unveiled at the centre’s The Bridge space on Saturday.
It is one of seven new businesses at the centre, having beat thousands of applicants to secure six-months free rent and specialist retail support.
Lili has put a lot of work into transforming her new space (Image: Lili Wilson)The new store in the High Street centre is the passion project of the on-screen stylist, Lili Wilson, who has stocked her space with designer items collected over the course of her career behind the camera.
“Although the process to get here has been long and tiring, we are so happy to have been given such an amazing opportunity,” said Lili.
“It blew my mind when I found out that I was one of the winners. It was a big dream to have my own physical space and has already been very life changing.”
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The Bridge’s new traders were recently joined by the Mayor of Southend, Ron Woodley at The Bridge’s official launch (Image: Gaz de Vere)The Thrift Club was officially launched with a “mini concert” event which featured a performance from Southend jazz singer, Ruby Robinson.
Through her career in on-screen styling, Lili has developed an expert knowledge and instinct for fashion.
The Thrift Club store stocks many designer labels and vintage finds sourced from the sets Lili has worked on.
Lili (R) pictured with fellow The Bridge trader, Tessa Hallmann (L) (Image: Gaz de Vere)
“I’m still doing work in TV and film, but the shop is very much my focus at the moment,” Lili added
“I’m also hoping to run workshops on things such as upcycling, reworking and hand sewing, which will give people skills to transform there own unwanted clothes.”
The new businesses at the centre will soon be joined by budget giant B&M, which opens in March amid a boon for the city’s High Street as major retailer Dunelm has revived its plans to take over the Royals’ empty Primark unit.
You can stay up to date with The Thrift Club by visiting the.thrift.club.uk on Instagram.