How is “vintage” actually defined? / How is "vintage" actually defined?
Share
The term “vintage” has definitely gained popularity in recent years. But how old does something have to be to be considered vintage? There are, unsurprisingly, different opinions and interpretations on this.
The origin of the term “vintage” can be found in oenology. The word comes from French and literally means “harvest” or “vintage”. In the context of wine, vintage refers to the vintage of the wine, i.e. the year in which the grapes were harvested. It was later transferred to other areas and today stands for objects that have a certain historical value or nostalgic significance.
The traditional view defines vintage as objects that are at least 20 to 30 years old. This time frame is based on the idea that a certain amount of time is required to consider a vintage item. This definition is often used in the fashion and design world and emphasizes the appreciation of bygone eras.
As time has progressed, the term vintage has evolved. Some people consider items that come from the 1980s or even 1990s to be vintage. This contemporary approach takes into account cultural change and recognizes that style and aesthetics have changed over the decades.
More recently, the term vintage has often been associated with the retro trend . This is less about the actual age of an item and more about the style and aesthetics of bygone eras. A new product can be made in a vintage style to emulate the look and atmosphere of a particular period. This interpretation of vintage places less emphasis on age and more on the visual aspect.
There is also the opinion that age alone is not the determining factor for vintage. Some people consider items to be vintage if they have a certain significance or rarity, regardless of their actual age. It's about personal interpretation and the individual value that an object has for the owner.
And what exactly are antiques? While vintage refers to items that come from a bygone era and often have nostalgic value, the term " antique " refers to objects that are even older and often have high historical or cultural value. An antique is typically considered an item that is at least 100 years old.
Here at Zuerich Vintage the term is used to mean that anything older than 20 years is considered vintage. So of course the 90s too, although it's hard to call your own youth "vintage" :-)
Ultimately, both vintage items and historical antiques offer the opportunity to honor the past and let the charm of bygone times live on. I admit it: I think it's cool!
And you?
Greetings, your Kate <3
The term "Vintage" has definitely gained popularity in recent years. But how old does something have to be considered vintage? There are, not surprisingly, various opinions and interpretations on this.
The origin of the term "Vintage" can be found in oenology (the study of wine). The word comes from French and literally means "harvest" or "year." In the context of wine, vintage refers to the year the grapes were harvested. It was later extended to other areas and now stands for items that have a certain historical value or nostalgic significance.
The traditional view defines vintage as objects that are at least 20 to 30 years old. This timeframe is based on the notion that a certain amount of time is required to call something vintage. This definition is often used in the fashion and design world and emphasizes the appreciation of past eras.
With the passage of time, the concept of vintage has evolved. Some people consider items from the 1980s or even the 1990s as vintage. This contemporary approach takes into account cultural changes and acknowledges that style and aesthetics have changed over the decades.
More recently, the term vintage is often associated with the retro trend. Here, it's less about the actual age of an object and more about the style and aesthetics of past eras. A new product can be made in a vintage style to mimic the look and atmosphere of a specific time. This interpretation of vintage places less emphasis on age and more on the visual aspect.
There's also the opinion that age alone isn't decisive for something to be considered vintage. Some people view items as vintage if they possess a certain meaning or rarity, regardless of their actual age. This is about personal interpretation and the individual value an object holds for its owner.
And what are antiques, actually? While vintage refers to items from past times that often hold nostalgic value, the term "antique" applies to objects that are even older and often have significant historical or cultural value. An antique is typically considered an item that is at least 100 years old.
Here on Zuerich Vintage, the term is used in a way that anything older than 20 years is considered vintage. So, clearly, even the '90s qualify, although it's quite a challenge to call one's own youth "vintage" :-)
Ultimately, both vintage items and historical antiques provide the opportunity to appreciate the past and keep the charm of bygone eras alive. I admit it: I think it's cool!
And you?
Warm regards, Yours Kate <3