Vintage Buying and the Online Marketplace

It was not that long ago that wearing something someone else had worn was seen as vulgar or disgusting. One particular branch of secondhand clothing is vintage buying, which has become a new craze in the fashion industry. Megan DeSouza, a graduate from the University of Rhode Island Textile Merchandising and Design program, is currently pursuing a career in this field. She previously worked at an esteemed vintage wear store called Circa Vintage Wear which was named one of the best vintage wear stores in the country by GQ Magazine. She now has her own online “store” on Etsy, where she sells vintage pieces she picks up at thrift stores, yard sales, flea markets, online, estate sales, other vintage stores, or from individuals she meets. This “new” trend of “vintage-wearing” has the potential to continue for the foreseeable future both in stores and in the digital world. Without the digital capabilities of today’s technology, the popularity of vintage wearing would not be as widespread as it is today.