About me

Jacob Knight – Founder of Knight Vintage

Hey, I’m Jacob Knight from Llanishen, Cardiff – a skater at heart, music lover, and vintage clothing addict.

Growing up, I was all about skateboarding, football, and music. School was never really my thing – I struggled in academia, failed Business Studies in college, and ended up dropping out to work in retail. It wasn’t the path I imagined, but it was the start of something unexpected.

I’ve always had a love for clothes, but I never thought I could turn that passion into something real. I started thrifting from vintage shops just to get affordable gear to skate in, but soon found myself flipping pieces to make extra cash. That side hustle turned into something more.

After working at places like Schuh, Vans, and Size, I saved up and set off to Southeast Asia in search of something – call it the classic “find myself” trip. I planned for six or seven months, but after just three (and spending all my money on clothes), I had my lightbulb moment.

The Spark

In December 2019, I walked into a shop called Soi 66 in Chiang Mai and instantly knew I wanted to bring clothes back home to sell. I returned to Cardiff in February 2020 and launched my first Instagram page, Gordon’s Comeback – named after the wild Thai hostel owner who helped store my first haul of vintage finds.

I started selling pieces on Instagram and Depop, but then lockdown hit. Instead of launching a brand, I ended up building a DIY skatepark with a couple of mates. Turning an abandoned wasteland into a proper skatepark taught me what’s possible with hard work and belief – and I’ve carried that same energy ever since.

Knight Vintage is Born

In August 2020, I rebranded to Knight Vintage, relaunched Depop, and on August 30th, did my first pop-up at Indie Superstore. It went great. For two months I worked full-time at Size and did weekend pop-ups before landing my first Cardiff Market stall in November. That’s when I quit my job and went all in.

Lockdown struck again, and it felt like I’d lost it all. But instead of folding, I teamed up with my mate Cal to make funny skits on Instagram. Those videos helped grow our following and kept sales alive even with the market closed.

Leveling Up

We reopened in March 2021 and things took off. By February 2022, me and Cal hit New York, and I went back to Thailand – though a motorbike crash at 50mph almost took me out. Back in Cardiff, I had way too much stock and knew I needed a bigger space.

On May 28th, 2022, I opened a larger stall in Cardiff Market. I kept pushing – traveled again to Japan and Thailand in early 2023, came back, and smashed it for the rest of the year.

In 2024, I returned to Thailand in March, closed the shop in August, and headed to Japan in September. That trip sparked a whole new vision – from layout and colour to energy and inspiration.

What’s Next?

In October 2024, I opened a brand new Knight Vintage shop – one that reflects everything I’ve learned, lived, and loved along the way. It’s more than just clothes. It’s culture, community, and a journey that’s only getting started.