Vintage with Love brings furniture shopping with purpose to Johannesburg this October

Johannesburg homeowners and design lovers will have a new reason to browse pre-loved furniture this October, with Vintage with Love bringing its first dedicated Furniture Fest to Design Quarter.

Running from 15 to 18 October, the four-day event will showcase a curated selection of quality second-hand furniture that has been restored, reupholstered and given a contemporary new look. Furniture Fest, however, is about more than finding a statement piece for the home.

The event is the latest chapter in Vintage with Love’s long-running mission to turn pre-loved goods into meaningful support for literacy and education initiatives around South Africa.

From pre-loved clothing to furniture

Vintage with Love has spent more than a decade building a model around the idea that items no longer needed by one person can still have plenty of value for someone else. The organisation originally became known for its sales of donated and pre-loved clothing, with proceeds going towards a network of literacy and education-focused charities.

That approach expanded into homeware and furniture in 2023, when the organisation introduced Décor for a Difference at the Johannesburg Big Sale. Furniture Fest now takes that concept a step further with an event devoted entirely to furniture.

Tracey Butler, Managing Director of Vintage with Love, says shoppers should not expect a conventional second-hand furniture sale.

‘Furniture Fest is about seeing the potential in quality pieces and transforming them into beautiful, contemporary furniture for today’s homes.’

– Tracey Butler, Managing Director of Vintage with Love

The collection has been carefully selected for its potential before being restored or reimagined, allowing original furniture to retain its character while gaining a fresh identity.

A major part of the transformation comes through upholstery, with several pieces receiving new life through statement fabrics donated by Ardmore and other established fabric houses. The result is a collection aimed at shoppers who want distinctive furniture while also considering what happens to items when they are no longer wanted.

This idea comes at a time when buying new is often the default choice, particularly when it comes to updating interiors. Furniture Fest instead puts the spotlight on restoration and reuse, making the case that older furniture can still have plenty of life left in it.

‘In a world of fast consumption and throwaway culture, Furniture Fest challenges the idea that new is always better.’

–  Tracey Butler, Managing Director of Vintage with Love

For shoppers, that means the appeal is not simply finding something different for the home. Each purchase also forms part of a wider cycle of reuse and giving.

Every purchase supports education

The charitable element remains central to the event, with profits from Furniture Fest to be donated to Vintage with Love’s network of literacy and education-focused charities across South Africa.

This gives the event a second layer of purpose: furniture that might otherwise have been discarded is given another opportunity, while money generated through its sale is directed towards initiatives focused on education and literacy.

It is a model Vintage with Love has developed over the years, bringing together donors, shoppers, volunteers and partners around the idea that pre-loved goods can still create value long after their first owner has moved on.

Event Details

When: 15 October – 18 October

Where: Design Quarter, Johannesburg

Entry: Free (16 – 18 October)

VIP Opening Evening Tickets: R300

Further information and registration can be found here.

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