The Story Behind Flaming Moth Vintage

My love of vintage, fashion and history started when I was a little girl.

I grew up in a 1600s former hospital Outside Bristol , surrounded by old walls, stories and a sense that everything around me had lived a life before I came along. But I have always had a special fascination of the history of clothes & jewellery. 

I thank my mum for that. See, my mum worked as makeup artist rep for YSL and introduced me to the wonderful world of fashion at a very young age. She would take me behind the scenes at fashion shows, where I got to see the magic, creativity and excitement that went into creating beautiful fashion. She was, without a doubt, the most glamorous mum in the playground. She would never leave the house without her pink lipstick and was always dressed beautifully.

With three daughters she was always on a budget, she would shop in charity shops and somehow make everything look fabulous — long before charity shopping became fashionable like it is today. Mum also used to have what she called “wardrobe parties” at home. She would get all her friends over do clothes parties. Me & my sisters found this magical.

Sadly, when I was just 21, my mum became ill with dementia. I spent so much of my adult life caring for her, I even got a job at her care home so that I could afford to spend that quality time care with her. She passed away when I was 37, and I decided that it was time to do build something for myself — to follow the thing I had always loved most.

Fashion. Vintage. Stories.

And so, Flaming Moth Vintage was born. 

I set up my business in Sparks as pop up, it was only meant to be for one month, but now here we are 3 years later! 

The name comes from the idea of a Moth being drawn to a light. For me, my mum is my vintage butterfly, my moth — the person who first led me towards fashion, beauty and all the magic that comes with it. I keep her close every day. Above the mirror in my changing room is a photograph of my mum on her wedding day to my dad in a family Nottingham lace.

I look at her every day, and I like to think she is still with me, helping me put a little bit of magic into the shop.

That is why what I do means so much to me. I love buying vintage wedding dresses from families and hearing the stories behind them — the memories, the love, the laughter and sometimes the happy tears that are woven into every beautiful gown.

A vintage wedding dress isn't simply a dress. It's a piece of someone's history.

When a bride chooses one of my dresses, I love thinking that I am helping to give that story another chapter. Perhaps the dress that once belonged to another bride will bring a little luck and magic to a new bride on her wedding day.

And when there are photographs of the original bride, I love keeping those with the dress whenever possible. It means that the memories can continue to be passed down rather than forgotten.

That, to me, is what makes Flaming Moth Vintage different.

We don't just sell vintage bridal gowns. We keep their history alive. We care about where the dresses came from, who wore them and the memories they carry.

~ Lydia, Owner of Flaming Moth Vintage