30th November 2008 - by Ken Sand
Bargain Shopping in Birmingham
Birmingham is the second largest city in the UK. While it can
not match the shopping on offer in the metropol of London, it
still has plenty of shops, market and designer outlets to
please even the most discerning shopaholic.
Historically, Birmingham is known to be one of the places where
the industrial revolution started. Its central placement in the
middle of England - The Midlands, was vital to its industrial
rise. Due to all the factories in the area, Birmingham was
known as the industrial powerhouse of Britain. Today, the city
has left its dark and polluted past. The service economies are
dominating and it is unlikely that you ll bump into a miner
when visiting this modern city.
Despite popular belief, Birmingham is actually drowning in
fashion and its designers are leading lights within the UK
fashion scene. Local designer Jacob Kimmie recently had an
exhibition at prestigious London Fashion Week and Central Saint
Martins graduate Usefzada, also from Birmingham, has been
dressing Thandie Newton lately.
But it’s not all high end stuff for those who won’t use public
transport but went to public school. Whether you’re a dressy
dolly, diamond geezer or ironic musician, there’s something to
suit you here in Birmingham and you should aim to suit
yourself. Below you ll find some tips for value for money
shopping in Birmingham.
Cheap shopping in Birmingham
For downtown chic head to The Custard Factory’s flea market in
Digbeth (nearest Station Moor Street) on a Saturday for vintage
clothes or for the lads try Sunday when the wares are more
geared towards vinyl. If there’s no spare time in your dairy on
weekends t then head to Urban Village, also at The Custard
Factory, any time. It’s literally a warehouse rammed with
second hand clothes!
Also rammed with garb is The Oasis Market on Priory Square is
thankfully about as far away from the high street chain as
you’ll get. It sells Gothic clothes, clusters of silver
jewellery, posters, bondage bits and bobs and dope labels such
as Dready. And it’s also the best place to buy Dr Martins and
Wrangler jeans which never go out of fashion.
Bargains in the jewellry quarter
For those of you hankering after a swim in glamour at half the
price why not check out the jewellery quarter in Hockley
(nearest station Snow Hill) which sells at trade prices. Here
you’ll get all sorts of modern and classical pieces that you
won’t catch other people rocking the same.
If all that proves too much you might need a super hero to ease
your shopped out feet and save you from consumer itis. If
that’s the case head to Nostalgia & Comics on Smallbrook
Queensway where you can buy graphic novels, manga and the usual
alternative oddities.
Are you more in the mood for a classic market? Head over to St.
Martins Rag Market. Nicknamed “The Rag” you’ll find a wealth of
bargains which you won’t need to be wealthy to buy. Flick
through fabrics, coo over cosmetics or trawl through racks of
tights, it’s here that you’ll find a few gems as well as a
genuine experience as to what “Brummie” life is all about.
Originally named The Smithfield Market, The Rag was opened on
Whitsun Fair Thursday on 29 May 1817, selling food. Today it
sits behind the Bullring and neighbours a food market. Open on
Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Article Source: http://www.articlesabroad.com
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