We have just started into a new year and with it comes the magic of change and new beginnings. We want to be our best selves, and in that moment of excitement, we feel sure that we can make all our resolutions come true. So we begin 2015 with new ideas and renewed ambition for moving towards our goals.
We at Community have a passion for vintage. It is not so much out of nostalgia for a time passed, rather we appreciate the quality of material and design that survived the test of time and is difficult to find for an affordable price in today's boutiques and department stores. As champions for sustainability, we also prefer buying used rather than supporting the dirty industry of fast fashion that puts a strain on the environment and people alike with it's synthetic fibers, chemical processes, and poor factory conditions.
The golden age of vintage buying, when thrift stores were filled with 50s prom and 60s mod dresses, that sold for dirt cheap and often by the pound, has long passed. Goodwill & Co. have caught on to the vintage trend, pre-selecting vintage pieces before they even hit the sales floor and whole selling it by the ton for a higher price. Some stores now have "vintage sections" with prices that are comparable to hipster vintage stores. Pickers everywhere are selling their finds on Ebay, and since Mad Men first appeared on the TV screen, pieces of mid-century modern furniture and home decor are nowhere to be found. What is left are the orphans of fast fashion, cheaply made clothing of synthetic fabric and "vegan" leather shoes, just barely out of style.
Yet there are still treasures out there, which makes the endless hours of combing through overflowing racks fly by and the hunt still exciting. It makes me get up at 6 am to wait in line at estate sales, and scout the long rows of flea markets, searching for the trends from the 80s and 90s. The silk shirts and velvet skirts, and knits that were still made from wool and cashmere. The Doc Marten's and the vintage Coach bags. The 90s platform boots that are coming back in style. Slightly obscure designers like Maison Martin Margiela and brands like Rag & Bone and All Saints are not yet household names in the thrift store world, and therefore priced the same as something from Old Navy. Staying ahead of the curve and spotting those treasures and coming trends before everyone else does, is what pays our rent and keeps our lights on.
The mark-up on vintage is usually more than 100%, even more for the occasional designer finds, but aside from the hours of shopping and driving, it requires washing, steaming, ironing, and often mending, then tagging and pricing it before a piece is ready to be sold at Community. There is something deeply rewarding about bringing a vintage garment back to life, so it can continue writing it's story.
We like sharing our appreciation for vintage with you, and for you to enjoy our treasures. We are determined to lower our prices on vintage clothing this year. We want our prices to be fair and affordable for you while we still want to get paid for our work, and balance the overhead of having a brick-and-mortar store where you can try on your outfit before you buy it. So this year, we will try to find that balance point by adding more inventory but marking it up less.
Lower prices means more affordable for you, and the more you shop, the more we can lower our prices and still be able to pay our bills and ourselves. More sales also mean a higher turnover, which keeps the store inventory fresh and exciting.
One thing that could happen though, if you buy more of our vintage clothes, is that we have to go thrifting more often - and that we wouldn't mind a bit.
Sanni Baumgärtner, owner of Community.
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