A vintage fair is attracting growing numbers of shoppers from overseas.

The quarterly Love Vintage fair held yesterday at Christchurch Hall in Wanstead Place, Wanstead, proved popular with shoppers from the USA, Japan and China.

Cary Whitley, who organises the event, has been collecting vintage textiles, haberdashery and other items for 18 years.

She said: “It was fabulous. We had customers from Texas and over 200 shoppers from Japan and China.

“Vintage goods are very popular with Japanese and Chinese visitors because there aren’t many places over there to buy them.

“We’ve seen a growing number of Japanese dealers buying goods in recent years.”

Traders at the fair must adhere to the strict criteria of selling only genuine goods which at least pre-date 1980.

Mrs Whitley added:”True vintage is anything 50 years old, but that can be difficult to find a lot of. But it must be good quality otherwise it just become another second hand market.”

Mrs Whitley’s next big clothing fair is the Posh Jumble in February, where shoppers can pick up designer second hand clothing.