Wild Clothing in Hockley is closing down after over 40 years
The vintage shop has been on Broad Street since 1983
One of the most iconic clothing shops in Nottingham, Wild Clothing, is closing at the end of December 2025.
I spoke with co-owner Charlotte Oaten about why it’s shutting down, the legacy of the shop, and what’s next for the future.
When it comes to independent shops in Nottingham, Wild Clothing is one that will truly be missed. For more features like this, subscribe to The Notts Edit to receive our articles in your inbox for free.
“It’s something that will stay with people forever” – Wild Clothing is closing after nearly 43 years
Words and photos by Eve Smallman
When walking on Broad Street, it’s hard to imagine it without the bright red building. That’s Wild Clothing, which has stood proudly on the street for nearly 43 years.
“I think it’s the longest standing vintage shop in situ – so that’s stayed in the same place the whole entire time,” explains Charlotte Oaten, co-owner of Wild Clothing. “It’s a Nottingham institution, and everybody knows about it.”
The announcement that the shop is closing on December 31 came as a sad surprise to a lot of people. Scan through socials, and the comments are flooded with memories of shopping there in the ‘80s, ‘90s, and the ‘00s. The nostalgia of picking up corduroy flares, Christmas jumpers, Stüssy tees, and fat vintage ties.
And, as one person puts it, “Shops like Wild were what gave Nottingham that special feel.”
Wild was loved far and wide – and this is how Charlotte and her business partner, Rob Hague, came to buy it in 2023. “Rob and I run a shop in Hertfordshire, which has been going for 10 years. Rob had a connection with Wild since the ‘90s, so when the original owners, Robin [Pounder] and Mary [McCallion], had the store, Rob was buying wholesale from them,” explains Charlotte.
She continues, “He got on really well with them and became friends with them, and so he’d always come and visit the shop – even after he stopped buying wholesale. I think, really, it was a dream of his to have the shop one day.”
After Robin and Mary retired and left the business after 37 years, another owner came in in 2020 – but the pandemic proved to be a challenge. “We were in a good position to come and take it on, and we were super excited with it being such an iconic spot and having that connection as well. We absolutely jumped at the opportunity.”
The shop was previously known for stocking mainly American clothing, wholesale straight from the States. “Everyone knows the super long Levi’s - they’re always commented on, and people post pictures of them,” Charlotte says. “We’ve also had some amazing true vintage Levi’s pieces and beautiful vintage leather jackets.”
Rob and Charlotte introduced Italian womenswear, sourced directly from Italy, which was also a unique touch. When they came in, they also wanted to freshen things up with newer items. “We brought in new secondhand stock and really reached out to the student population and the wider community,” Charlotte explains. “We saw our takings increase, and it was amazing to get to know local people and work with the existing team that was already here.”
After this initial rush, their own set of challenges started to creep in. “A lot of suppliers really hiked up their prices – the vintage industry is really changing. Our business rates, rent, and bills increased as well,” Charlotte explains. “Plus, Rob and I live down in Hertfordshire, so we were coming up every week, which was becoming increasingly challenging and costly.” Charlotte also faced health issues, which made the situation even more difficult.
When they are in the shop, they do love being in it. When I’m snapping pictures, Charlotte chats with every single customer – not just about their purchases, but about their days and their plans. “We’re so gutted that this has become the reality,” she says.
Over the last year, they have also been looking for other people to take it over. “We believe that an owner or operator, someone who could be working in here and running the store, that’s the right kind of person, would do a fantastic job,” Charlotte explains. However, sadly, with the rent and the rates being too high, they had multiple people look into it that it ended up not being viable for.
In terms of the future, I’m told off the record who’s set to take the unit over. All I can say is that it’s a local brand, which the original owners coincidentally have a connection with.
For Wild Clothing, they’re hoping to have a big party upstairs in Rough Trade in 2026. “We really want to get everybody together, whether that’s people that have worked here or customers, and have a great night of sharing stories,” Charlotte says. They’re also sharing the first pictures of Wild and other archive material on Instagram and Facebook. And, if you’re quick, they are having a £15 basement kilo sale throughout December, as well as offering other discounts.
Even though Wild Clothing itself might be closing, its legacy will certainly last. “We have so many people that have memories through the ‘80s and ‘90s, coming in here when they were young, and it really shaped their style and even their music taste,” Charlotte finishes by saying. “And, still to this day, we’ve had so many generations come up through the shop. I think that is amazing, and it’s something that will stay with people forever.”
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