Hollister and Porter Hovey are collectors of an unusual sort; at ages 30 and 26, respectively, they’ve turned their Brooklyn loft into a Victorian museum of sorts. With old dressmaker dummies, vintage fencing equipment and plenty of taxidermy in their possession, the Hovey sisters represent what the New York Times calls the “new antiquarians.”
Collecting vintage Victorian goods is a hobby and a passion for Hollister and Porter Hovey, but it’s also a curious way to build wealth in an age where traditional ways to invest have fallen prey to the recession. Check out some of the pieces from their collection above.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Vintage Collecting
- The trend of collecting vintage Victorian goods presents opportunities for creating unique antique shops or online marketplaces.
- Steampunk Decor
- The rising popularity of steampunk-inspired decor opens up opportunities for interior designers to create unique Victorian-themed spaces.
- Alternative Investments
- The trend of using vintage Victorian goods as a form of investment presents opportunities for financial institutions to create platforms for trading and valuing these collectibles.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Antiques
- The antique industry can capitalize on the trend of vintage Victorian collecting by curating and selling unique pieces.
- Interior Design
- Interior designers can tap into the demand for steampunk decor and offer their services to create Victorian-themed living spaces.
- Finance
- Financial institutions can explore the potential of vintage Victorian goods as alternative investments and provide services for trading and valuing these collectibles.
