Reclaim Threads (615 twenty seventh St. South, Suite D), a classic clothes store simply opened, bringing sustainable, “slow-fashion” to the Warehouse Arts District. Co-owners Marissa Baker and Emma Charles oppose the waste, human rights violations, and carbon footprint of the fast-fashion trade. The collections at Reclaim Threads are moral, upcycled, classic garments with a singular twist that you’ll not discover wherever else in St. Pete.
“We use authentic classic and second-hand classic garments to make changes [to the garments],” says Emma. “We spend numerous time deconstructing. And the designs are based mostly on what’s obtainable. I’ve this [garment] and I’m impressed to make it higher.”
Being restricted by what’s obtainable doesn’t hinder Marissa and Emma’s creativity. Limitation, in any case, is a proper constraint through which to experiment. Simply glancing by means of the gathering on-line, you’ll discover patchwork suede floof vests, a denim cow-spot bustier, genie leg chaps, a holographic kimono, and a Dior quilted home gown with fur, amongst a lot rather more.
“We add numerous fur to issues,” laughs Marissa. I believe we are able to all concur on an affinity for fur.
Devoted to sustainable trend
In direct opposition to quick trend (one of many highest polluting industries on this planet), Reclaim Threads is an upcycled gradual trend store. In keeping with their ethos, they monitor their carbon footprint by way of app, use solely obtainable supplies., and decrease waste. Shopping for upcycled or recycled garments as a substitute of latest garments from the fast-fashion trade.
This is applicable to them as nicely. Neither Emma nor Marissa have purchased new garments in over 6 years, and once they drive to festivals to promote garments, trailer cramped with inventory, they calculate it into their month-to-month offset of carbon emissions. Final month they offset 1,359 KG of carbon. The sustainability message appears to be gaining traction. “Generally I’ll see somebody I offered garments to 2 years in the past, they usually’ll inform me they nonetheless haven’t purchased new clothes,” says Marissa
A fortuitous assembly
Marissa and Emma met at a celebration. When Marissa started hula hooping, Emma grabbed her baton and joined. Their dialog swerved round their shared love of festivals and classic clothes. They determined to enter enterprise collectively the next day.
They stitched their backgrounds to kind Reclaim Threads. Emma introduced retail expertise—she is aware of methods to deal with merchandising and shows. She’s bought enterprise acumen, too, so she manages the again finish of the enterprise. Marissa was previously the Vogue Director of Prolific Quarterly, a world excessive trend and glamour journal, and he or she’s no stranger to trend exhibits and wardrobe styling.
Whereas Reclaim Threads is now a brick-and-mortar retailer, it began out on the street. As competition goers, they trucked their threads round to festivals, like Bonnaroo, promoting out of a 20’ x 10’ sales space. Regardless of being hitched to a constructing now, they haven’t any intention of stopping their nomadic methods and can proceed to take their threads out into the world.
Marissa says, “We encourage individuals who say: ‘I really like these garments however I might by no means put on it’, we encourage confidence in these folks to put on what they need and never be so afraid of public opinion.”
