S9 Ep36 COSTURA: Stef Garcia, Y2K vintage dealer - on Whatnot livestreams, building community connections, and wholesale buyouts of Y2K deadstock designer vintage.

On today's show, we're chatting with Stef, the founder of Costura, a Y2K vintage fashion business that does serious volume on Whatnot. Stef started reselling full-time after losing her job during the pandemic, and for the last three and a half years, she's been hosting live auctions on the livestream platform, Whatnot – sometimes she even goes live daily.  In this episode, she shares how she's built a loyal community of cool people who love early 2000s fashion, plus her best tips for livestream sales. Earlier this year, Stef teamed up with a few business partners to make her biggest buyout yet, and then spent three and half months in Los Angeles, continuously going live until she sold the lots – it's a wild story and she's always on the move between Miami and LA hunting down one-of-a-kind Y2K treasures. I'll let her share the scoop on how she does it. This is a really fun one – let's dive right in! DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: [4:57] How Stef started selling vintage after getting laid off from her job in television production. [6:27] Her first time visiting a rag house. [11:32] Things really clicked when Stef got on Whatnot [15:09] Building an audience of Whatnot regulars: resellers, collectors, and everyday shoppers [17:15] Stef's biggest buyout yet: 1,000 pieces of Y2K deadstock [21:41] How to have a successful vintage live show [33:34] Living and selling vintage between Miami and Los Angeles [37:13] How Stef approaches social media, showing up on TikTok and Instagram [41:19] The vintage in her personal collection that she will never sell [46:05] Her holy grail find is a Jean Paul Gaultier piece from the bins EPISODE MENTIONS:  @houseofcostura Stef on TikTok Shop Costura on Whatnot Stef's upcoming Mandalay show @bleumi.bleumi @busyladybaca Whatnot LET'S CONNECT:  📸Instagram: @emilymstochl 🐦Threads: @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 KT  Lydia Welp Michael A. Megan Morris Jennifer Alana Rivero Jerrica Yasumura  

On today's show, we're chatting with Hilliary—a vintage collector and event producer who's building community at the intersection of sustainability and style. Hilliary is the founder of Circle of Friends, where she hosts The Stoop Series—a live interview series that's making circular fashion accessible and inspiring. With Circle of Friends, she's using her platform to elevate the voices of vintage dealers, sustainable brands, and circular economy innovators, showing people why secondhand should always be the first choice. And if you're a collector yourself, you're going to love this conversation. In this episode, Hilliary shares her journey with circular fashion – how she fell in love with vintage markets while studying abroad in Florence, to her growing silver collection of hosting and homewares. Plus, how she's restoring a 1899 Brooklyn townhouse entirely with vintage and secondhand finds. Oh yeah – and we talk Brimfield, she's a Brimfield fanatic, just like me. What I love about Hilliary's approach is that she's building a vintage-filled life through relationships and community – she's built connections with vendors at markets like Brimfield who remember her, save pieces for her, and have become genuine friends. Very within the ethos of Circle of Friends. This is a really fun one – let's dive right in! DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: [4:20] Hilliary grew up a fashion-lover, and her first big purchase was saving up to buy a Kate Spade backpack. [7:44] Her journey into a sustainable fashion career. [13:14] Starting "Something Borrowed Never New" - her original Substack focused on re-use during wedding season [17:08] Why she started Circle of Friends  and The Stoop Series [20:37] Conversations that have expanded her understanding of circularity - from fashion to food to home [26:36] Restoring a 1899 Brooklyn townhouse entirely with vintage and secondhand finds.  [35:07] Her go-to Brimfield fields and vendors [42:10] How she's building and using her vintage silver collection for hosting [48:31] Learning upholstery to restore vintage furniture herself EPISODE MENTIONS:  Hilliary Bianca Salamanca @yourcircleoffriends Hilliary's Substack I did the Stoop Series with Circle of Friends! Terratela Terratela on Circle of Friends Helena Elston Studio Helena on Circle of Friends Rachel Glicksberg Don't Let Disco Ashley from Don't Let Disco on Pre-Loved Podcast LET'S CONNECT:  📸Instagram: @emilymstochl 🐦Threads: @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 KT  Lydia Welp Michael A. Megan Morris Jennifer Alana Rivero Jerrica Yasumura  

On today's show, we're chatting with Hailey and Hallie –two best friends who turned their high school thrifting hobby into a thriving brick-and-mortar vintage shop in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Hailey and Hallie met in high school gym class, and bonded over their shared love of thrifting, Tumblr, fashion, and magazines. They started thrifting together and listing their finds on Depop as a fun creative outlet after school. As they grew up, the shop's story evolved – the duo opened their first brick-and-mortar store in a tiny beach town while finishing up school. They've since moved their brick-and-mortar twice– landing in the heart of downtown Asbury Park. Along the way, they've built an incredible community, devoted customers, and hosted fashion shows that sold nearly a thousand tickets! In this episode, they share how they balance managing their store and their Depop simultaneously, why they pivoted from thrift store sourcing to private buying appointments, and their most memorable finds. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to dig through garages and attics for decades-old treasure with your best friend and business partner – well, listen up! It's a really fun one – let's dive right in! DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: [3:54] Finding the styles they admired from Tumblr at the thrift store. [5:56] Hailey and Hallie met in high school gym class where they bonded over magazines, thrifting and fashion. [9:30] They launched Shedhead on Depop while still in high school. [14:45] Their first pop-ups were in other small businesses – local boutiques and coffee shops – where they learned the ropes of retail. [18:14] Opening their first brick-and-mortar store in a tiny beach town, Avon-by-the-Sea. [22:02] Moving locations three times to find the right vintage-loving community [27:32] The biggest lessons learned from running their business [30:45]  How they balance their store and their Depop simultaneously [36:49] Why they shifted from thrift store sourcing to private buying appointments [38:33] Their most memorable buys and finds. [41:34] Hosting a punk fashion show that sold almost 1,000 tickets EPISODE MENTIONS:  Shedhead Vintage @sheadhead.vintage Martha Peabody  Mini-documentary with Martha about Bestsey Johnson Pearl Street Consignment Devyn Crimson Emily Riboflavin LET'S CONNECT:  📸Instagram: @emilymstochl 🐦Threads: @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 KT  Lydia Welp Michael A. Megan Morris Jennifer Alana Rivero Jerrica Yasumura  

On today's show, we're chatting with Tara, of Call Me the Breeze – where she's best known for curating and restoring vintage wedding dresses. Tara lives in rural South Australia on an off-the-grid farm with no neighbors for miles. Last year, Tara made a huge pivot – closing her decade-old multi-brand brick-and-mortar shop to lean into her love for vintage and antique fashion. It all started when she acquired a massive collection, which included suitcases of antique bridal and lingerie, the works. Now Tara operates an online vintage studio business out of a haunted (!!) heritage mansion from the 1870s, shooting her finds in the wedding chapel. In this episode, Tara shares about the viral TikTok video that got 13 million views and put her vintage bridal business on the map, how she sources vintage in rural areas (where collections sit untapped for decades!), and how she manifested her current career back in high school with a business project.  It's a really fun one – let's dive right in! DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: [7:19] Tara sourced some of her earliest pieces for styling jobs from eBay. [9:00] She manifested her current resale career back in high school with a business class project.  [10:04] Moving to a small, rural town in South Australia. [11:30] She opened a multi-brand brick-and-mortar shop, which she ran for 10 years. [15:57] After a massive collection acquisition, Tara rented a room in a heritage mansion from the 1870s, and dove right into starting the vintage business. [19:45] How living remotely gives her access to untapped collections from rural areas where people have space to store things for decades. [24:00] How vintage bridal became a focus for Call Me the Breeze. [24:56] The viral video (13 million views!) showing her friend's wedding dress restoration process. [29:34] Her social media strategy [32:58] How to clean and restore vintage wedding dresses [35:25] Popular styles in vintage bridal in 2025. [41:34] Her most memorable finds, including two Issey Miyake apron dresses for $12 each. EPISODE MENTIONS:  Call Me the Breeze @callmethebreeze on IG @callmethebreeze on TikTok Viral wedding dress restoration Lucy Williams Issey Miyake found at a thrift store 80s dress that inspired Tom Ford for Gucci? Romance Was Born Collette Dinnigan Catherine Rayner  Sarah O'Hare Love Well Sourced LET'S CONNECT:  📸Instagram: @emilymstochl 🐦Threads: @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 KT  Lydia Welp Michael A. Megan Morris Jennifer Alana Rivero Jerrica Yasumura

On today's show, we're chatting with Janelle Abbott, the artist and designer behind JRAT. Raised in her parents' Seattle clothing factory, Janelle grew up with an early respect for the labor that goes into making clothing.  After graduating from Parsons, she rejected corporate fashion, choosing a radically sustainable, zero-waste path.  Through her brand JRAT, she transforms discarded and found materials into one-of a-kind garments – her work merges activism, art, and performance—as she exposes fast fashion's farce through garment reclamation, reminding us that all garments are human artifacts. In this conversation, we're diving into Janelle's journey from growing up surrounded by sewing machines to her own craft in zero-waste design. We'll talk about how her design education shaped her view of the fashion industry, her creative process for sourcing and transforming discarded textiles, and what it really means to practice zero-waste pattern making. Plus, Janelle shares stories about her favorite finds, and why she wants people to be in love with clothes that already exist. Plus so much more. Let's dive right in! DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: [2:06] Janelle loved fashion from a young age, growing up in her parents' Seattle clothing factory. [8:14] How thrifting with her mom at St. Vincent de Paul became their bonding time [10:08] Learning to sew at age seven and the freedom to experiment with reworking clothes [12:31] Why she decided to pursue fashion at Parsons despite knowing firsthand how hard the industry is [18:34] Learning zero-waste pattern drafting  [24:04] Taking a seven-year detour to avoid monetizing her creative work [28:15] Her creative process for sourcing and transforming discarded textiles [33:23] Her special upcycling techniques [39:45] JRAT's latest NYFW show, Pretty Ugly Princess, inspired by the 1990s board game [53:09] Personal style, and the pieces that make it into her own closet.  EPISODE MENTIONS:  JRAT Alyza DelPan-Monley Sustainable Style Seattle JeLisa Marshall T Parent Path with Art Adult Human Females Avery Trufleman Doc's Cake Shop Nick of Time Sheerly Touch Ya Heavy Duty Vintage Shop Berriez Down to Clown LET'S CONNECT:  📸Instagram: @emilymstochl 🐦Threads: @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 KT  Lydia Welp Michael A. Megan Morris Jennifer Alana Rivero Jerrica Yasumura

This episode is brought to you by ThredUp —and big news: their tech just got a serious upgrade, go check it out! Plus, new customers get 50% off and free shipping when you use the code: PRELOVEDPOD. On today's show, we're chatting with Rachel Stillman, the founder of Ornate Vintage Co. Rachel's journey into vintage started young—growing up surrounded by fashion and art, with a grandfather who was an artist and dealer, a grandmother who was a fashion designer, and a mother who also graduated from FIT, where Rachel herself studied fashion, and sells vintage jewelry. At just 20 years old, as a college student in the middle of a pandemic, Rachel took the leap and opened Ornate Vintage Co.—turning a lifelong dream into reality sooner than she ever imagined.  Today, she's sharing her journey with us, including: how her family shaped her creative vision, and her love of vintage showgirl pieces with incredible histories. Plus so much more. Let's dive right in! DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: [1:34] Rachels is a third-generation FIT grad who grew up surrounded by fashion and art.  [5:23] Going to flea markets and auctions with her grandfather  [9:12] Her mom found  her a $20 Jean Paul Gaultier top at a local consignment shop when she was in middle school.  [12:18] She went to school for fashion, like her mom and grandma. [14:34] Starting her vintage business because of a single bulk buy of 500 units, during the pandemic.  [17:57] Unloading the inventory and doing DIY photo shoots with friends [22:31] Developing her brand aesthetic and specialties [26:46] Specializing in vintage showgirl costumes. [34:38] On selling at Brimfield. [36:44] Hosting a Whatnot live sale after watching for three years [49:08] Always searching for sexy memorabilia and novelty graphics EPISODE MENTIONS:  Ornate Vintage @ornatevintageco @stillvintage Beacon's Closet Golden Nugget Flea Market Manhattan Vintage Show Whatnot Q&A with Toots Vintage on Whatnot Gem Pre-Loved Podcast with Liisa Ditto Vintage LET'S CONNECT:  📸Instagram: @emilymstochl 🐦Threads: @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 KT  Lydia Welp Michael A. Megan Morris Jennifer Alana Rivero Jerrica Yasumura  

This episode is brought to you by ThredUp —and big news: their tech just got a serious upgrade, go check it out! Plus, new customers get 50% off and free shipping when you use the code: PRELOVEDPOD. On today's show, we're chatting with Ken, the founder of Stylebidder, a secondhand shop specializing in vintage and designer menswear. Ken has been selling for over thirteen years, starting out on eBay and Grailed, and he eventually expanded to his own online store and pop-ups events across the northeast including Newport Folk Festival & Alfargo's Marketplace.  Ken is a true Ivy style enthusiast with deep knowledge of American menswear history, including Brooks Brothers, and in 2024, Stylebidder began an ongoing collaboration with Brooks Brothers sourcing and cataloging vintage pieces from their 200 year history for their seasonal vintage shops. He shares lessons learned from building his business, including: the power of sharing educational content on social media, navigating the balance between online sales and pop-up markets, and advice for working with consigners Plus so much more. Let's dive right in! DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: [1:45] Ken's early style influences: from skateboarding to discovering American Ivy style in college [5:09] Going to college in Boston, Ken found the thrift stores were a treasure trove for American Ivy style. [7:20] He started selling part-time on eBay because he found s0 many good finds sourcing for himself, including five Hermès dress shirts at a thrift store [9:30] Things really picked up when he started to take on clients to do consignment. [12:47] The vintage scene in Vermont and building community with other dealers [13:38] His first pop-up at Burlington Vintage Market and the transition from online-only selling [17:23] Developing his vintage specialties of American Ivy menswear brands, tailoring, and Japanese designers [20:15] What defines American Ivy style  [27:27] On working with Brooks Brothers [32:42] How social media, particularly educational content, has helped Stylebidder grow. [37:32] How to strike work-life balance, including between online sales and pop-ups. [41:17] Favorite pieces and personal style : picking through a hayloft, finding Big E Levi's, and hunting for the perfect tweed sport coat EPISODE MENTIONS:  Stylebidder @Stylebidder Newport Folk Festival Alfargo's Marketplace Burlington Vintage Market Little City Thrifty Engineered Garments Beams Plus Take Ivy Articles of Interest - American Ivy Ametora book Patchwork Madras Brooks Brothers Fun Shirts JPress Shaggy Dog Sweater Patchwork corduroy hunting coat Rico's Vintage Humbug Vintage LET'S CONNECT:  📸Instagram: @emilymstochl 🐦Threads: @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 KT  Lydia Welp Michael A. Megan Morris Jennifer Alana Rivero Jerrica Yasumura  

On today's show, we're chatting with Desiree, founder of Electrical Banana Vintage. Her obsession with vintage started at a very young age, growing up in NYC where she kept herself occupied by playing 'store' while her mom attended college classes. Eventually, she got a job working at Nashville's oldest vintage shop, The Hip Zipper, and after three years learning the ropes and getting encouragement from the owner to follow her dreams, Desiree decided to take the leap and start her own vintage business. She has great advice to share about pivoting in your business, and has taken Electrical Banana Vintage through several iterations, now finding she enjoys to sell and build community on Instagram live shows. I'll let her tell you all about it – let's dive right in! DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: [3:19] Desiree grew up playing dress-up and store as a child [6:21] What thrifting was like in 1990s New York City  [10:36] She managed several small businesses in Nashville [15:16] Lessons learned about running a business while working at the Hip Zipper [20:24] Why Desiree opened a brick-and-mortar, but pivoted and closed it [26:05] Staying open-minded and pivoting when you need to [26:34] How to make social media work for you and your business [34:53] How to define your brand as a reflection of your personal style [40:59] Nashville's vintage scene has exploded to nearly 100 shops [43:38] Favorites from Desiree's personal vintage collection EPISODE MENTIONS:  Electrical Banana Vintage @electricalbananavintage Etsy page Hip Zipper Mellow Yellow Payton Dale Ellie Monster Black Shag Vintage Screaming Mimi's  How to navigate vintage wholesale on Pre-Loved My Best Vintage Life Live True Vintage Sonic Wave Vintage Irreverent Finery Leelee Roos Vintage LET'S CONNECT:  📸Instagram: @emilymstochl 🐦Threads: @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 KT  Lydia Welp Michael A. Megan Morris Jennifer Alana Rivero Jerrica Yasumura

This episode is brought to you by ThredUp —and big news: their tech just got a serious upgrade, go check it out! Plus, new customers get 50% off and free shipping when you use the code: PRELOVEDPOD. On today's show, we're chatting with Lureena Thompson, a comedian, actor and artist in Los Angeles, who opened the Cheerio Collective in Highland Park this spring. It's a vintage store by day – utilizing a curated "rent-a-rack" collective concept, and a live event space by night – and Lureena self-admits she's doing SO MUCH, and that you should stop by to tell her in-person to stop and drink some water. This is a really honest and authentic chat about what it takes to bring a store and event venue to life. A major highlight of the Cheerio Collective is a breathtaking 1,200 square foot mosaic floor that Lureena designed and installed herself utilizing remnant offcuts of natural stones such as marble, granite, quartz and travertine. Creating it was a labor of love, that underscored Lureena's commitment to using sustainable practices and recycled materials in her business. The creation of the mosaic floor created a significant buzz, both within the Highland Park neighborhood, and online. The documentation of the entire renovation captivated a wide audience and amassed millions of social media views that created a huge anticipation for Cheerio to open. I'll let Lureena tell you the rest! –  let's dive right in! DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: [4:19] Lureena has thrifted her whole life, and has noticed how much more popular secondhand has become in recent years. [8:39] How Lureena got into selling vintage. [10:43] Things really got started when they found the studio space that would become the Cheerio Collective. [14:19] First, she took on a major renovation and designed and installed a 1,200 square foot mosaic floor utilizing remnant offcuts of natural stones. [18:11] Sharing the 3-month renovation journey on social media. [23:20] An honest and authentic chat about opening a small business vs. expectations [26:39] Why they've landed on a rent-a-rack, vintage collective, and market model. [32:35] Advice about pricing and running a sustainable business [38:29] Lureena's personal style and favorite pieces. EPISODE MENTIONS:  @cheeriocollective Cheerio Collective Mosaic floor work-in-progress Dresscue Dresscue on Pre-Loved Podcast The Crowd Went Wild  Cheerio Collective events calendar Juju of ANJU and Luca Essentials LET'S CONNECT:  📸Instagram: @emilymstochl 🐦Threads: @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 KT  Lydia Welp Michael A. Megan Morris Jennifer Alana Rivero Jerrica Yasumura

On today's show, we're chatting with Ashley Moubayed, the founder of Don't Let Disco. Don't Let Disco sources uniquely crafted beads, often vintage or antique, and one-of-a-kind, to upcycle into limited-edition jewelry, honoring the life within every bead.  Don't Let Disco is a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist, and this New York Fashion Week, Ashley will be showing her Spring/Summer 2026 collection – Pre-Loved got you a special sneak peek into some of the pieces and their stories, and I can't wait to share these with you.  Everything about Don't Let Disco embraces the spirit of pre-loved, and I can't wait for you to hear Ashley's stories–  let's dive right in! DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: [4:55] Ashley loved fashion as a young child, and she particularly gravitated toward jewelry. [5:52] In college, she started upcycling jewelry for her friends. [11:46] Her grandmother collected coins and her grandfather collected stamps, so Ashley has a fondness for both. [17:54] Working in the fine arts at Sotheby's  [25:05] While at Sotheby's, Ashley was full of creative inspiration and started making beaded jewelry.  [33:17] How Don't Let Disco started working with The RealReal [35:58] What we can expect from the Spring/Summer 2026 collection, which premiers this week.  [39:21] The Don't Let Disco beading bars EPISODE MENTIONS:  Don't Let Disco @dontletdisco @therealreal Pools of Light jewelry  Sotheby's  By George Don't Let Disco x The RealReal Naomi Elizée Rachel Glicksberg Noelle Sciacca The Miami Antique Show Heather Hurst Heather Hurst on Pre-Loved Podcast Hilliary Bianca Salamanca Circle of Friends In House LET'S CONNECT:  📸Instagram: @emilymstochl 🐦Threads: @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 KT  Lydia Welp Michael A. Megan Morris Jennifer Alana Rivero Jerrica Yasumura