Meet Jess Phenix
How would you describe what you do?
We source clothing and fabrics that otherwise end up in the landfill, and upcycle them into wearable, current pieces that hold value again.
What inspires your day-to-day fashion sense?
I am very inspired by 90s fashion, and I’m always looking to feel comfortable, yet confident. I love a good stand out/ unique piece, but obsess over durable basics like denim, and a classic leather jacket.
Where are your top 3 places to shop second hand?
-Floh Market in Montreal (@marchefloh)
-Canadian Depop & Etsy shops (thrifting from home= so damn pleasing)
-Local Thrift Shops
Why is thrifting/upcycling important to you?
There’s an overwhelming abundance of second-hand clothing/fabrics in the world. Not only is it eco-friendly to reuse, and the reason why we create/consume fashion this way, it allows one to have a unique wardrobe that no one else has 😉
What is your fav item you’ve ever thrifted or reworked?
Our absolute fave item that we have upcycled so far is definitely our ‘Firebird made’ vintage denim jackets. We adore denim, so we sourced vintage jean panels, and created jackets out of them, that we are so proud of!
If you could give a piece of advice to someone who is looking to start thrifting/upcycling, what would it be?
-Just start and have fun!
-Make a list of items you’re looking for; focus on searching for those, so that you don’t get overwhelmed.
-Look in ALL sections (if you have time & energy)
-Bring water & a snack 😉
Meet Tristan Cole
How would you describe what you do?
I would describe what I do as just making art, relatively formless, I like to create whatever comes to mind.
What inspires your day-to-day fashion sense?
My style has always been predominantly function based, so when I’m out, I prefer cargo and utility designed clothing. But as of lately I’ve been opting for a more comfortable fit.
Where are your top 3 places to shop secondhand?
BIVIO (Milan) SEARCH & DESTROY (NY) VALUE VILLAGE (TOR)
Why is thrifting/upcycling important to you?
Coming from a single-parent household, we didn’t always have the funds for new clothing. Thrifting and upcycling became the only way I could afford the things I wanted. Luckily, over the years this has furthered my abilities as a designer and has pushed me to appreciate the ecology of pre-owned vs. fast fashion.
What is your fav item you’ve ever thrifted or reworked?
I thrifted an archive Margiela knit sweater, but accidentally left it in the hotel that same week.
If you could give a piece of advice to someone who is looking to start thrifting/upcycling, what would it be?
Don’t be afraid to take your time and figure out your personal style. I feel like we are always pushed to buy the new trends or design things because it’s working right now. One of the best things I did for myself was just figuring out what I wanted to wear and how I can contribute to furthering that idea within design.
Meet Sarah Dunkelman
How would you describe what you do?
I am a social media content creator with a passion for sharing all things second-hand shopping related: thrifting, vintage, garage sales etc… I love to share my thrifted finds online in hopes of inspiring others to get out to their local second-hand shops to help keep clothing items out of landfills. Not only is thrifting a great bargain, it is also better for the planet than traditional shopping and if you watch my videos you know it is a lot of fun!
I also run the @thriftedthis Instagram account which has turned into a community of thrifters from all of the world sharing their passion for styling thrifted outfits.
What inspires your day-to-day fashion sense?
I realized recently that a lot of my style is influenced from things that have been a part of my life since I was younger. Growing up Avril was my icon, I look back now and realize why I became obsessed with converse at such a young age. I love to mix fun pieces with classics like a good pair of thrifted Levis and Converse.
Where are your top 3 places to shop secondhand?
Road trips out of the city- I love discovering smaller thrift stores in places I am not as familiar with.
Bloor st. West (Brockton Village)- I love the vintage stores in this area, if I am looking for something specific I know I will be able to find it at one of the many stores located along Bloor.
Summer flea markets- Many flea markets have recently popped up in Toronto and they are a great place to shop small and support individual vintage shops.
Why is thrifting/upcycling important to you?
Spreading the message about the positive impact that thrifting and upcycling have on our environment is super important to me.
For so long it seemed taboo to talk about wearing “used clothing” unless it was marked as vintage or designer. However, the reality is there is so much donated clothing that is good as new or has barely been worn. I often find that items I purchase from the thrift store outlive my other retail purchases. Thrifting is also a great way to express your personal style as the options truly are endless!
What is your fav item you’ve ever thrifted or reworked?
This question is super tough because I feel like I find a new favourite piece every time I go thrifting which, is every week. To narrow it down I think my favourite finds have been my purses, shoes and jackets. I find such unique items in these sections for amazing prices that I wouldn’t be able to find elsewhere!
If you could give a piece of advice to someone who is looking to start thrifting/upcycling, what would it be?
– Go in with a very open mind!
– Don’t rush- go on a weekday if possible and give yourself hours
– Don’t limit yourself to one section, look around the whole store, you never know what you will find!
Meet Andres Barrios
How would you describe what you do?
I do a little bit of everything, my career has taught me and almost forced me to adapt and learn in several facets of the industry. Nevertheless, I focus on curation and artistic direction. I like to share and communicate anything that I find attractive or interesting, from goods and clothes to ideas and concepts. I also love spreadsheets and numbers.
What inspires your day-to-day fashion sense?
I navigate and try to absorb visual concepts and ideas on the regular, either on social media, magazines or people that I meet. I love Japanese and South Korean architecture and fashion; their way of interpreting proportions and silhouettes is just unique. Comfort and utility are essentials for me when choosing an outfit or designing a piece – My dad’s an architect and always used to tell me; “Decoration is an insult to design”.
Where are your top 3 places to shop secondhand?
Value Village: simply because it is the real one and the biggest/convenient one. Go to the outside-the-city locations to get the best of the best.
Annex Vintage: Not too big and not many items, but when I find one piece, it hits.
The Salvation Army: the cleanest, cheapest and most diversified pieces.
Why is thrifting/upcycling important to you?
To be all the way honest, because it’s affordable and unique. It’s a great way to shop sustainably without encouraging fast fashion while recycling pieces of such good quality that can still last for years. I also find it very important because it keeps your creativity alive, you always have to envision the pieces and work the extra mile to style them and make them work with other finds.
What is your fav items you have ever thrifted or reworked?
Such a hard question, there are so many. But I think it’s a black overshirt I got 5 years ago. So minimal but so nice, it fits huge and goes with everything, anytime.
If you could give a piece of advice to someone who is looking to start thrifting/upcycling, what would it be?
I would say just go often! It makes you practise your creativity + the more you go, the more accustomed you get with navigating through all the pieces and understanding their potential. Also, the inventory changes almost every day so you never know when you’ll find that one piece you needed and didn’t know about it; so yeah, go often.