On today’s show, we’re chatting with Sierra, who started her secondhand clothing business, Tailored Thrift, while she was a sophomore in college. She wanted to bring a curated selection of vintage and secondhand to her college town – and what started as popups and markets turned into a brick-and-mortar store.

I loved hearing about how Sierra worked on her business, almost as a research project tackled alongside getting her fashion merchandising degree. She found that in her college town there was a large group of people who wanted to shop sustainable, but didn’t feel like digging through the racks to thrift their clothing.

We also shared stories of vintage shopping on travels – from Brimfield Market to the UK – and wild times at summer vintage markets in the Midwest.

I loved getting to hear from Sierra’s experience as a college student entrepreneur, and I know you will, too – so, let’s dive right into it!

DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:

• [4:44] Sierra wanted to be a fashion designer, starting in middle school, and she often upcycled her own pieces from the thrift store.
• [7:36] Sierra worked on her business, almost as a research project tackled alongside getting her fashion merchandising degree.
• [12:22] Getting started as a vintage business as a college sophomore.
• [15:51] Sierra’s first forays into vintage markets, and what she learned from doing them all over the Midwest.
• [24:34] On her college campus, Sierra found lots of people who wanted to shop sustainably, but needed to figure out how.
• [29:13] How Tailored Thrift has appealed to the young shoppers in her college town.
• [32:08] Vintage sourcing from Brimfield to the UK
• [36:36] The 250 pound antique cash register that Sierra’s mom got her for Christmas for the store.
• [38:57] Some of the fashion merchandising research Sierra put to use in her store.
• [43:51] Her love of vintage watches.

EPISODE MENTIONS:

• Tailored Thrift
• Instagram - @_tailored_thrifts
• My Brimfield Market Vlog
• Adams Antique Fair in London
• We Are - pre-loved fashion in London
• Peach Tree Revival

LET’S CONNECT:

• 📸Instagram: @emilymstochl
• 🐦Twitter: @emilymstochl
• 🎥TikTok: @emilymstochl
• 📧 Substack: https://prelovedpod.substack.com/
• 🎧Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/prelovedpod

SPECIAL THANKS:

A special thanks goes out to my Patron Insiders – your support makes Pre-Loved Podcast possible!

• Patty Weber
• Kathy Brand
• Lisa of Queenie & Pearl
• Lucille of Galipette Vintage
• KT
• Lydia Welp
• Anastacia Banicke of Goods & Provisions
• Michael A.
• Megan Morris
• Jennifer