About Sardines

Sardines, or Sardines D.C., is a vintage brand based in Northeast Washington, D.C. We exist solely for the appreciation of old clothing.

A few things our staff loves:

• 70s dagger collar shirts
• Double breasted suits
• Denim with patina and character, but not thrashed
• Vintage wood and metal hangers
• Durene jerseys
• Unique buttons and hardware
• Obscure 2000s promotional products
• Defunct sports teams merchandise

While we have handpicked garments from all over the world, we have an especially rich collection of items local to D.C. and Maryland. This includes highly sought-after merch from professional sports teams, universities, and landmarks.

Visit us at an in-person pop-up to browse items not available on our site, or just to chat about clothing! Follow @sardinesdc on Instagram so you know where we’re headed next.

What makes something vintage?

The term “vintage” does not have a concrete definition, but it is generally accepted among vintage enthusiasts that a vintage item was produced between 20-100 years ago. You may also hear the term “true vintage” being thrown around, which is an even more nebulous concept. To make things simple, consider garments produced between the 1930s and 1970s as true vintage. Anything produced 100 years ago or more is considered antique (although you may also see it considered true vintage).

Simply put: vintage = 20-100 years old, true vintage = produced between 1930-1970, antique = pre-1930s.

Sardines DC specializes in vintage, but there are curated modern items mixed in.