In this special issue of AVANT, more than 50 lifelong collectors, dealers, historians and enthusiasts share their personal connection to vintage clothing — the stories behind the fabrics, the memories sewn into the seams, the excitement of the treasure hunt, and the quiet strength of the clothes worn before us.

Each conversation is a window onto a world where clothes are much more than a style: they are history, identity, rebellion, know-how, emotion.

From dusty thrift stores to private archives, from the French countryside to the backstreets of Tokyo, these voices tell us why vintage matters. Why a faded work jacket can be an heirloom. Why a pair of boots can hold a decade of someone else's life. Why the past, worn well, still has something urgent to say. Why people, too, have something to say about it.

Because ultimately, it all revolves around people. Clothes are at the heart of it, certainly. But it's we who bring them to life. We are the storytellers, the guardians, the conduits.

For this special issue, AVANT gave a voice to the vintage world. Each was invited to share their stories, memories, and passion. To pass on the flame.

And other surprises to discover...