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unorthodox retro is a new second-hand clothing store in downtown Raleigh that features unique statement pieces and quality streetwear. Co-owners Julian Jacobs and Alexandria Taylor opened the store together in June after supporting each other by running their own personal vintage store.
“We were an unorthodox pairing, but it worked,” Taylor said. “It’s something you don’t expect, but once you get it, it makes a lot of sense.”
After a year of friendship, Jacobs and Taylor arrived in what would become Unorthodox Vintage. They decided to partner and create a store that embraces self-expression and bold fashion choices.
“We balance each other,” Taylor said. “[Jacobs] Love marketing and management, I love aesthetics and looks. We all have our strengths and we don’t step on each other’s toes, so it’s a perfect business marriage. ”
Jacobs and Taylor share a love of fashion and secondhand shopping through thrift stores, vintage stores and marketplaces.
“I care about fashion, but I really don’t have enough money to buy what I want,” Jacobs said. “When I started being frugal, I realized I could buy interesting pieces or sell things to buy interesting clothes.”
Co-owners advise students looking to start their own business to focus on a specific audience and remember that you don’t have to take all the advice others give you.
“A lot of people will tell you how to run a business, but remember, it’s your business,” Jacobs said. “Know which advice to take and which not to take. It’s not their business that’s at stake. It’s yours.”
They also urged everyone to use fashion as a way out to become independent and confident.
“Pick what you’re afraid of in the store,” Taylor said. “If there’s something you don’t think you can do, buy it. It’s going to be a challenge, but you’ll surprise yourself.”
Taylor said the store caters to a younger audience who want to stand out with attention-grabbing and talented clothing.
“I’ve never been someone who wears what everyone else wears, so when I try to follow trends, I realize that my clientele wants something different,” Taylor said. “I started shopping for clothes I would wear and things in my closet.”
Over the next few weeks, Unorthodox Vintage will be participating in a new pop-up marketplace, The Burrow. The market will mirror a more intimate version of the national farmers market, with multiple vendors and a variety of items available for purchase.
“We want it to be like a farmers market, but if someone lives downtown, they don’t have to drive all the way to the farmers market,” Jacobs said.
The co-owners also want to connect with local schools and educate a younger audience about secondhand shopping and what it’s like to be sustainable in fashion.
“Understanding sustainability and apparel recycling is very important for teaching,” Taylor said. “Our generation is the one who cares the most, so it’s important to be able to use this knowledge to create sustainable businesses.”
Unorthodox Vintage’s ultimate goal is to bring Raleigh’s distinctive pieces, allowing artists and fashion lovers to thrive and young audiences to find their individuality through fashion.
“I don’t see much [people] Like us, so we want to share this business with the community,” Taylor said. “I feel like this can be the start of a breakthrough that helps students stay sustainable and express themselves through clothing. “
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