A new business is opening in Helston’s main street and it promises to be something the town has never seen before.

Jan Williams and Bee Pellow will be opening The Lady Eve Vintage early in the new year, in the former Pictures and Things framing shop at the top of Meneage Street, which they are in the process of renovating.

They will be selling a range of vintage clothes, from the 1920s right through to the 1980s, as well as prom dresses, Flora Day dresses and other vintage items, along with Jan’s collection of “very mad hats.”

Jan said: “The vintage collection we’re going to bring to Helston, it’s going to be pretty spectacular. “We like every piece to have merit and still have a quality and a wearability to it.

“What we strive for its top quality, individual pieces, that people can mix into their own wardrobes.”

Bee agreed: “It’s owning a piece of history. It links in to our reusing, sustainable ethos. Even in the shop, we are recycling elements.”

Jan added: “It’s going to be a big part of what we do here. We hope people are ready to embrace that and pick up on the idea that the world doesn’t need any more stuff.”

Falmouth Packet:

Jan's daughter Evie modelling vintage pieces 

The pair met at a craft fair around five years ago and instantly formed a connection. With similar creative backgrounds in crafting and fashion, as well as family life, one major passion they both shared was vintage goods.

Jan went on to open a vintage clothing shop in the Old Foundry in Hayle for two years – her first foray in the world of business, which has led to where they are today.

Bee will be bringing her 20 years’ experience in retail, as a window-dresser for a multinational company all over the south west.

Both also creative original pieces out of vintage textiles, which will be sold in the shop, such as lampshades, bags and covered notebooks.

Jan said: “When I was in Hayle we would get together every few days and talk about trying to put this dream together.

“For years I think we were looking for retail space, with a view to starting something, but we couldn’t find the right space.

“We tried Truro, Redruth, but we just couldn’t find anywhere and then we really struck on Helston.”

Jan lives in Mullion and Bee is also from there originally but now lives in Helston, so the location seemed perfect.

Falmouth Packet:

Clothes will range from the 1920s to the 1980s 

“It’s full of great independent shops, it’s always busy – we just wanted to bring that localness to the high street, and be part of that,” added Jan.

“So far the response we have had from other local businesses has been superb. Everyone has been really encouraging and is looking forward to another business on the high street.”

The pair say they have plenty of ideas, many of which they are keeping under wraps for the time being, but Jan promised: “It will be quite a new concept in retail. It’s not going to be just racks and racks of clothing – I think people have had enough of that.

“We want them to go away thinking, ‘I’m inspired’.

“These days people can just click a button and it’s convenient, so when you go to a shop there’s that personal delivery of an experience.

“When the collection is finally in here, that will be a realisation, for us, of a dream.”