My very first thrift piece was a pack of Fruit of the Loom kid drawls. It was a brand new pack, so it was most likely donated by a retail store. I was around 10 years old, and my father and stepmother thought it would be hilarious to buy my kiddie grannie panties from a random thrift store. Little did they know the joke was on them because I wore that entire pack faithfully. So, to my loving and generous parents, "thank you kindly." (R.I.P John "Pop's" Witherspoon)

Fast forward to 2014 when I started paving my own path in the thrifting world. I was building my online clothing store, Open Profile, and I needed merchandise within my extremely low budget. I began with fast fashion pieces from trade shows, but I couldn't afford to stock the store with enough inventory each month. So I decided to take the Sophia Amoruso route and thrift. For those of you wondering “Who in the world is Sophia Amoruso?!”, let me put you on. Sophia is the founder, and creative brain, behind the clothing website Nasty Gal. In 2006, she started an eBay store and began reselling precious thrift finds; one being a Chanel jacket that financially elevated her brand. She then wrote an inspiring book, Girl Boss, that recalls her humble beginnings as a starving entrepreneur. Shoutout to all my Girl Bosses for taking leaps despite all the obstacles in our way. You ladies are my real-life Inspo’s.

My first personal thrifting experience was definitely overwhelming. I had no plans for what I needed or wanted. I was living in Brooklyn at the time, so I knew finding a thrift shop would be a breeze. One day, I went to my good friend Google and searched, “popular second-hand clothing stores near me” and tried the first thrift store suggested. During that time I shopped mainly at Beacons Closet and L Train Vintage in Williamsburg, Brooklyn; which is the go-to area for all things vintage, by the way. 

Here’s a little disclaimer: I’m not the Beyonce of thrifting nor do I have all the answers. What I do have is 6 years of experience, 2 of which are consistent years, that could help you navigate the world of thrifting.

You may be wondering how did I know what to buy. Honestly, I started with what I thought would sell: jackets and sweaters. Unfortunately, that decision didn’t work in my favor. My customers were not interested in thrifted jackets and sweaters. They were, however, interested in my uniquely designed fast fashion pieces. For my entrepreneurs in the resale industry here’s some gold: When buying merch for your shop, don't just buy what you like. Know and study your target market enough to shop for what customers need. 

For two years I struggled to take Open Profile from ground level to Bergdorf status. A girl has dreams! My L’s (losses not lessons) outweighed all my wins. Then 2016 came and my personal life took a crazy turn. My ex and I were finito. I closed my store, Open Profile, due to my lack of mental and emotional capacity to run a business, and I completely surrendered my life to Christ. All three had their pros, but giving my life to Christ will forever be my best decision. Let me keep it 1,000 tho, that season was also my hardest season. It consisted of a lot of mental and spiritual healing (Roman’s 12:1-2), and it prepared me for what was to come for my business. In 2017, God placed Open Profile back on my heart. Though I didn’t care to have it, I couldn’t ignore the strong urge to try again. Then, one day, I was hit with this vision to sell Vintage Christan tees. I know you may be confused on what that looks like, but no worries. Take some time today and head over to my Instagram @openprofile.us.

In the summer of 2018, Open Profile launched its vintage Christian and vintage streetwear pieces. Here’s another disclaimer: I’m not against fast fashion, I do believe my store will eventually sell both new and thrift. Open Profile is all about unique personal style, street style, rather than trends, so it’s fitting to have pieces from both ends. I would encourage people to find multiple ways to style their new and thrift pieces to appreciate the longevity of your clothing. 

God is still directing my steps with His plans and vision for Open Profile (Proverbs 16:9). For now, I have the opportunity to share my thrifting experiences and my love for personal style and my faith through my vintage Christian tees. I currently thrift 1-3 times per week for my business. And when I'm giving an opportunity to travel, I make sure to plan some thrift shopping within that state. For all my Thrifters in business that was another piece of gold for ya. (wink wink) 

 So, why am I here? Well, to include you on this thrifting journey. These past 2 years as a faithful “thrifty” has grown me, and I would love to pour my nuggets of wisdom into your hands. So, come ride with me these next few months as I share some tips and tricks about thrifting. Catch ya next article. Duce.

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.