Artiffact Shop at Headwest Market, Berkeley

Hey! It's Small Biz Saturday so I thought I'd pop-up to share a little about my vintage pop-up shop, Artiffact Shop. Also after writing about my journey below, I just realized it's my 20th year anniversary for selling vintage and secondhand as Artiffact...so even more to celebrate!

HOW IT STARTED

I've been in the vintage and secondhand world for quite some time now- as a child pretty much everything was thrifted out of necessity, and on the business side, I set up shop with my mom at local flea markets. I guess you can say the thrift life is second(hand) nature to me!

It wasn't until I had a child of my own back in 2001 when I started selling secondhand and thrift finds on ebay. It was a pretty good side hustle that helped me make some money while finishing up college and staying home with my daughter. It felt so good to find treasures for other people- almost like digging up ancient artifacts from the past so the future could make use of it.

FROM VINTAGE TO UPCYCLED

To me, it didn't make sense to buy anything brand new when there were so many resources from the past that we could reuse and repurpose. So I took my love for vintage and secondhand and stepped it up by creating my own designs from recycled materials and selling them on the streets of Berkeley. I wanted people to see how one thing could be transformed to something else, how I gave a chance on an old funky sweater so that someone else could now enjoy it as a skirt. I couldn't do it all alone, so Homeygrown was formed- a collective of artists, aka my homies, who come together to create and share our work with the world.

After organizing hella fun fashion shows (aka Trashion Shows), leading sewing and silkscreening workshops, and even throwing @swapnotshop clothing swaps in the community, I just couldn't do it all anymore once I got a full time job in education. So my sewing machine gathered dust, my silk screen emulsion expired, and my fabric piles got tucked away.

BACK TO VINTAGE

But my love for vintage was there to stay, as many of my untouched vintage pieces I scored while fabric searching were waiting to be shared with the world. So I kept hunting. I'd search for thrift shops on my travels, and even stop at garage sales on my morning runs. I could score a find from a mile away- and run right up to it!

Some finds while traveling Palm Springs, CA

So when I had an opportunity to pop-up again years later, but this time with strictly vintage finds, I dusted off my racks and made it happen. Again, people loved what I found, and I loved seeing what I picked up on my journeys go home with someone new. And I didn't even have to sew anything!

The pop-ups kept poppin' up after that. I didn't focus on online sales with these unique vintage pieces, just more about selling live and IRL because there's nothing like seeing someone's face when they find that perfect thing from my shop. I love curating what to bring to each event and the thrill of setting up in different spaces. What's even more special is meeting other small business owners and picking up something for myself. Small businesses support small businesses!

WHAT’S COMING UP

Here's the thing- I'm getting laid off from that one education job that took up all my time and energy, so now without that in my life anymore, I hope to nurture Artiffact Shop even more. I'm planning to dust off my sewing machine, make some new silk screens, and take more hunting trips to stock my racks. I'm SO EXCITED to put more love and creativity into this because it's always been there.

So come through to my next pop-up at the Temescal HEAD WEST Holiday at Temescal | North Oakland next Saturday and give me and my fellow small biz owners some love. Pick up a vintage find for yourself or as a gift for someone special. There's just something so special about a secondhand gift!

a Special offer

If you wish me happy 20 year anniversary at the Head West Holiday Market on December 4th, you get 20% off your purchase!

HEAD WEST Holiday at Temescal | North Oakland

Saturday, December 4, 2021

10:00 AM 4:00 PM

Temescal Alley + 49th Street
Alley 49
Oakland, CA, 94609

Cheers to 20 more years of this...to finding treasures from 20+ years in the past to share with others to enjoy for 20+ more years!

Head West Holiday Market

Celebrating Small Business Saturday with 20 Years!