Salvage Life Featured in Alt Noir Magazine

Salvage Life was just featured in Alt Noir Magazine which is a specialty independent online fashion magazine.

Since you can't read it in the picture, I printed the interview questions and answers below. If you would like to download the whole free magazine, click the above link.

Q: How did Salvage Life come to fruition?

A: When I graduated from college I was designing window displays part time and needed to find something to fill the rest of my day, so I started selling things I had picked up from thrift shops and flea markets. It kind of just evolved from there and ever since then I have been waking up in the middle of the night with new ideas for the shop.

Q: Why the name?

A: The name is two fold. The items I sell are all salvaged lives; cast offs from the past that still have relevance today. All the items I get usually need a good cleaning and some need repairs such as hemming, button replacement or an all out redesign. The second meaning implies a lifestyle, as in living a salvage life in which you see the potential in everything in order to waste as little as possible. I have a long way to go on this one, but every bit counts.

Q: Have you always had an affinity for vintage style?

A: I have always enjoyed going to antique stores with my mom, but I would say my interest in vintage clothing is more recent. When I was designing clothes in college I found myself looking at vintage magazines for inspiration and buying findings and fabric from vintage stores. I even found that the contemporary clothes that I liked all had a vintage style to them.

Q: How do you decide what pieces you will utilize for your store?

A: I used to follow all the trends, stocking the store with things I saw in all the magazines and other vintage sites, but when the 80's started coming back I found myself putting things in my shop that I did not like. It was at that point that I realized I wanted everything in the store to be something that I absolutely loved. Now, every time I look at my shop or the rack of clothes in my studio, I get a big smile on my face.

Q: Do you draw on anything in particular for inspiration when making choices for certain pieces?

A: My inspiration comes from stylish bloggers and artists such as Alix from The Cherry Blossom Girl and Emily from The Black Apple. I am also inspired by Zooey Deschanel, old photos, vintage wallpaper, and my stylish friends. When I am lacking creative ideas, I pull out my Anthropologie catalogs, I have a huge stack in my office.

Q: Any plans to expand your store to more than one location in the future?

A: Right now I am just online, but I would love to have a brick and mortar store someday...we'll see.

Q: What is the main goal you wish to achieve through your work?

A: I want to encourage people to reuse the wonderful things we already have rather than purchase newly produced products whenever possible. I also hope to provide affordable clothing so that my customers still have some money left over to live generous lives.