Thrifting with Alexandria, also known as Thrift Jesus

is that? And that's only because of the fact that everything in there was dirty to me. I'd walk in the building. We got boogers on the clothes. We got floral vests on it. The clothes all balled up underneath. I was not a fan. So it took me maturing first and realizing the beauty of thrifting and how original and unique the pieces are for me to...
feel more confident to go into that space and start really finding pieces of my own. So I'll say around college is when I really started taking thrifting seriously. Okay. What was you doing before that? So before I was in school, I was actually in school for aesthetics. So my background's in esthetician. For those that don't know, that is someone who's in the beauty skincare makeup industry. So we just make sure your skin looks good and you look your best when you come out here. So you don't look like, you know, when you're 50, 60 years old at 22. Okay. Long story short. So I started there. Before I was doing that, I was in the music industry. I was doing music. I wrote. I rapped. I sang. Don't be trying to Google me. Yeah, what was your stage name? What did you go by on stage? He in my business, y'all. What was you? Not you in my business. Little thrifty? No, because honestly, like I said, I didn't start thrifting until college, so I had that whole thing.
The whole persona was not even here yet. At the time, it was Drea Chantrelle. Okay, that's like your Sasha Fierce? Yes, honey. The whole new person coming through. Couldn't tell her nothing. Was she formed from the music? She was her. Was she formed from the music, or was she already there before the music? She was low-key there, but my auntie brought her out. How did your auntie bring her out? Because my auntie used to slip all my hoochie skirts in the cart. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. So when we go shopping, my mom, she used to make us come out in front of everybody. I'm talking like the dog, the cat, the white man, everybody. And show what we're trying on in the fitting room in front of her. Why? Because she couldn't come. She wouldn't come in the room. She told us to come out. So we would literally come out there. And if something was too short, mm-mm. That's all you heard? In front of everybody. Mm-mm. You knew what that meant? Mm-mm. So I was like, okay, cool. So I go back in, put it aside.
And then hand it to my auntie. And did she sneak you the stuff? And my auntie would buy it. And you put it in your book bag and go to school and put it on? That's why my eyebrows don't match right now. I was trying to get them done in the bathroom. What? I was trying to get them done in the bathroom. Well, can't nobody see me. You got your hat and your glasses. So ain't nobody going to see you looking like the rock over there. But I did a lot of bathroom switch-ups. Let's just say that when I was growing up. Oh, okay. That's where the eyebrows come in. So you was into music. You did a lot of writing. What did you write? I did. I wrote rap and I wrote R&B and neo-soul type of songs. So I wanted to write for other people as well. I just never kind of got into that space because I did end up switching to the fashion. Okay. So you was a writer of songs. So did you prefer singing, writing, or rapping? Ooh. So honestly, I prefer writing over all three. But if I had to pick between singing and rapping, I would say rapping. I just felt a little more free. Why the writing?
The writing, it was just very spiritual for me. It was a release to be able to tell my story, to be able to get things off my chest and on my brain so I could just put them on paper. That definitely helped a lot. So I did have a journal. I found one recently. Oh, you went back in time? I found a journal I had recently, and it just kept saying Michael Jackson is fine. What? That's wild. It's only you and Brooke Shields, right? So, yeah, I don't know. That was not too deep. What version of Mike was fine? Oh, this was like bad Michael. This was bad. Oh, bad. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. This was that time period. Like Thriller. The third nose. Between Thriller and bad. He had the new nose with the jerry curl. Yeah, but it wasn't too bad. It wasn't like that nose yet. He wouldn't look like Latoya yet. Yeah. But speaking of Michael, that's where I'm from. I'm from Gary, Indiana. Gary. Yes.
2100 Jackson Street. Yes, you know your thing. Yeah, I love music. I love music. It tells a story. So how long you been, so you from Gary, where did you go? You born and raised in Gary? Yeah, I was born in Gary. I won't say raised. I feel like, no, no, no, I'll say raised, but I'd say I was influenced in Atlanta. Because I got to Atlanta when I was like... In the elementary, middle school, just growing into my own self as a young woman. And I feel like that's when I really got an opportunity to see the culture there and kind of tap in. As much as I couldn't participate, unfortunately, I was too young. But I did see my cousins and older people and the music and stuff that was going on out there. Yeah. So what era is this? This is what, the 80s? This is the 90s. Late 90s? This is like the heart of the 90s. This is the early 90s.
Oh, this is when TLC and everybody was in Atlanta? Yeah, this is like Cisco Thong Song era, you know, that time period. Goody Mob, you know. So you into all that? Oh, I love every type of music. I don't discriminate at all. But yeah, that's what formed my style and also just my eye. And your mindset. And my aesthetic, yep. So you consumed Atlanta. So after the rapping and after high school, first of all, how was your childhood? What was your childhood like? I'd say my childhood was a little rough, but I think we found the magic in doing our own thing as far as like the music and different things, the creative outlet, me and my siblings. We would always record before there was a Vine, before there was a TikTok. MySpace. Well, MySpace, you can't really put a lot of videos, unfortunately. But we definitely had my mom's home camera.
with the tape that you put in there, and we would do skits and things like that. So we were kind of like our own version of all that before. Oh, so yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it. But that was just our creative release, and that's also what got us into the music world as far as starting with the skits and everything, and then slowly going into different acting and gigs like that. Yeah, that was the Burgess. Oh, we weren't playing. We said, the Grimes kids. Uh-oh. That was y'all roll call? Then y'all rush the stage, do split moves and splits. Look at the Jacksons. Right. From Wish. The Wish version. So after all that, so after high school, what was next? You said you went to school for? Aesthetics. Aesthetics. Yes, skincare. And then after that, that's when I got into the fashion, the thrifting world. I started taking it more serious. I started seeing how, you know, you could take these pieces and people would start reaching out to me to style them for different things.
And so I started practicing just on my friends. So that's what I really do. That's what my background is. Outside of aesthetics, I do wardrobe styling. And I also do creative directing. And now I'm getting into, which we'll talk about a little bit, into event curation. Okay, yeah, we're definitely going to talk about that. So when I think about thrifting, I think of like the Goodwill and the United Way or something. Right. But there's multiple different thrift stores, correct? Yeah, for sure. Some of my favorites actually are more like mom and pop. stores. They're kind of like private owned. And then a lot of government ones that are like Salvation Army and things like that where people actually can come in and receive like rehab and different things behind the scenes through the company. So a lot of their funds people don't know that but if you purchase something in their store that'll go towards people who are in the rehab program and things like that. So I really try to support those type of places more than anything. Okay. And you said,
The pieces bring you something. What stories and information do you get off of the pieces that you pick? How do you tell if it was this, that, and the third? How do you feel it? Vibe with it. A lot of times it's the fabric, the prints, the quality of it. And a lot of times I'll go and I'll look up a lot of the brands if it looks like it's super vintage. And then that's where the story lies. You can look up and it'll say... this brand has been around since 1915. It'll tell you more about it, and it's just intriguing. And I also had a situation happen in high school where I went to homecoming, and I was feeling myself. I thought I was her. Seemed like that's every day, though. I thought I was her. I was humble quickly. Because I get there, and someone had the same dress on as me. And yours, they was both from the Thursdays? No. Oh, this is in high school. This is in high school, but that's what led me to where now I'm sitting.
So picky about. Just because somebody else had the same dress. I just don't like to look like nobody else. You're supposed to go in the bathroom and rip a sleeve off. I should have. I was hurt. I was so hurt. So the rest of the night you was just staring at her. I felt the way because everyone kept coming up telling me that we had the same dress. You should have asked them who looks better in it. That's what you should have said. Who wearing it better? Right. So at that time I wasn't mean yet. I was still a little insecure trying to figure myself out. so I just felt the way and I was hurt that I was matching somebody and they wouldn't let it go. And I just started getting an attitude with everybody. So my homecoming turned into me feeling the way. And I just hated that feeling. So moving forward, I was like, I only want pieces that are either designed like myself or with a designer, a seamstress, altered or upcycled pieces or items that are thrifted. And who put you on to this whole style of thrifting? um I
I have to credit my family members, my aunt, my mom, my aunt, you know, with the skirt. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Midi skirt. Pre-hooching you. Yeah, because they were the ones who even showed me what a thrift store was. Like, I used to go with them to a bunch of department stores, and then sometimes we'd pop into a thrift store. So that's when I started even knowing what they were. And, you know, I didn't know the clothes were used at first. I felt bamboozled. So, led astray. I didn't land on the thrift store. The thrift store landed on me. She's like, and it was just funny because then we go in this particular store and everything was okay. Everything I pick up, yeah, that's fine. Put it in the cart. Yeah, okay. I'm like, where was this energy three stores ago? Yeah, they was different prices. Exactly. The prices was a little different. This is $5.99. That's $34.50. So once I started noticing, I was like, why is this stuff so cheap? And then I started seeing a little stain here, a little rip there. I was like, no, this was you. You had to figure it out.
So how do you fix, well, if they got a little stain on them, do you, by now you should know how to. Oh yeah, I can definitely, I can literally run a course on how to like restore and, you know, renovate and do all that with the items that you get out of the store. And eventually I will do stuff like that. I would love to do content like that where I show people like the proper products you can use to get stains out, make whites whiter, all the things like that. So that's coming soon. Coming soon to a neighborhood near you. Thrift repair. That part. You can use it if you want. 10%. So how did you build your brand, and what made you create this brand based upon the thrifting? Because before you was just doing thrifting for personal, so you wouldn't look like somebody else. So I didn't match anybody, and because I was doing shows at the time. When did it flip? Like, you know what, I could do this as a career. Once I found out that styling was a career. I didn't know wardrobe styling was a real thing.
Like, I didn't know people was out here making millions of dollars. Making people look good. Yeah. Nobody told me. When did you find that out? That was it again. You must have watched the Bad Boy documentary and seen that girl with her name Kim. Right. So what made you, so what was your first move in building your brand? I think I had to get over a lot of imposter syndrome. Mm-hmm. Once you realize and own what you do, I think that's when God can start blessing you and sending you the clients and the money and the exposure that you desire. I feel like until you get to that point where you own it and you wake up every day and say, yes, I'm thrift. Yes, I'm this. I'm her. And then that's the only way that you can really walk into your calling for real. I feel like once I got past that point of feeling like I'm
playing make make believe or yeah yeah i'm just doing it to do it. Yeah, like i don't really belong to be here, yeah. Right, or feeling like it's a hobby, too, because people will do that, too. They'll hit you with the, oh, that little business or that oh yeah you know how that goes so once i got past that, over that hump, I feel like that's when i was able to really start to um own it and walk into places where i felt like i belong for real and gain the type of exposure and clients that i really wanted. How did you start getting your clients? How did you start getting published in all these things? God, for one. Praying and being consistent. Making sure I take my quality of my work very seriously. That's one thing I've never played about, even from the beginning. You can go back and see my older work, and people will still be like, your old work is still dope. Because from the jump, I didn't play about that. I wanted to make sure I had a look and a style that stood out from everybody else's. And it's funny, because as you grow
and you become the blueprint. So a lot of times, you'll start something, but it doesn't mean you're going to finish it. It means that you're just now the person who they're looking up to or utilizing as a style to be able to go where they're trying to go next, which I don't take that as a bad thing. That's the point of being an influencer. So yeah, but that's pretty much it. I just really network my butt off. I was not playing. Me and them business cards? Yes. Business cards. We were in the street. The business cards were my roll dog, okay? You got to. You got to have them in that wallet, whatever, purse, whatever. I took it to a point where even when I was out having fun, I was working. I didn't pass up on any opportunity. If I saw somebody, Eva, Mendez, or anybody sitting in a corner somewhere, Carrie Hilson out somewhere, I'm like, okay, yes, we're having a good time, but I'm going to
do my two step over to her corner and slide her this card. So how was your nerves when it come to that? In the beginning. In the beginning it was bad. I feel like that's where that imposter syndrome came in though. I feel like when you know you're great at something and you have something worth promoting, I feel like the nerves go away. And so I feel like I'm only nervous when I don't feel prepared. So when you don't feel prepared, but back then it was just imposter syndrome. So then you, who was your first big client? Like when did you say like, Yes, like, this is something I should do. Right. I actually saw one of my friends. She was an influencer and an IG model, IG vixen or something. I don't know. I don't know what the name is. That was for the music video. You know, I don't know what the name is. Them motherfuckers own the thing. But she had a lot of followers on IG. Let's call it that. Dope. And she got called on to, in iHeartRadio, to speak with, what's his name, DJ Scream. Okay.
I went with her. She invited me out with her. I styled her for the interview, but she invited me to come. So all I did was I played my position, you know? I made sure she looked amazing. I got a lot of BTS. I didn't make it about me. You know what I'm saying? Like, you know how some people are all in the videos. Okay, look at you. No diddy. But I didn't do that. Like, I literally played my position. I made sure that she was straight, she was comfortable, made sure she had everything. Like, if she had stray hairs and things going on, I would help her. And basically that turned into her shouting me out on the air while she was talking to him. And he ended up on the spot while we were talking. He was like, oh, I'm going to have her, okay, thrift, you know, and let me speak for a second. And then he was like, I'm going to have you style me for my next photo shoot. Dope.
So I started him for a branding shoot at the top of the year, and he ended up using those photos throughout the entire year. Flyers, posters, promo stuff. And that was my first big client. Well, congratulations. Thank you. Congratulations. So how did that feel inside? Like, what was the wake-up that was like? That was the, I have arrived. That's the, oh, this is serious now. This is no game. So do you like styling people? Because if you follow her, once you follow her, you see that she also does fashion, like fashion shows and stuff. So would you rather do the fashion shows or the style? As I'm getting older now and I'm in a position where I kind of care more about community, I'll say the fashion shows and the events mean more to me now. I just love the support and how it all brings these people together from different walks of life, different areas, to come and accomplish one common goal together. So I feel like that's where I'm at now.
Like, I really love doing events. I love curating ideas and bringing them to life. And I just feel like it's so much more rewarding than just, like, a photo that you'll get at the end of a photo shoot. And plus you also put more people on, too. Yeah, for sure. So how's the whole concept going? So how many fashion shows have you done so far? Ooh. Okay, well, okay, that's a lot. I've never honestly thought about it, to be honest. I haven't thought about, like, from the start till now. Yeah. But I can at least say I know I've done at least like 10, 10 to 12, between 10 to 12. Looking back, how have you seen your growth? I definitely feel more confident now. I understand from having so much practice in different ones I've done, now I know kind of what works, what doesn't. So I can do more of what works and less of what doesn't. And just promotion and all that.
Having a budget for real. As you start making it, you can start spending it back on the business. Exactly. So being able to invest into myself, being able to invest into my models eventually, that's one thing I want to do too. You want to start your own house? I would love to start an agency. Yeah. Dope. What would it be called? I like the name Archive. Archive? Thrift Archive. Your budget will be low because of the thrifting. So... What clothes don't you like? Like, if you see somebody, right, like, it's got to be. What aren't you into? Yeah, what kind of outfits aren't you into? Yeah, what outfits, what textures don't you really like? Oh, I don't like cheap stuff. I just don't like stuff that feels like. What's cheap? I don't know. Family diamond? Mesh. Mesh. That's all a rave.
I don't know. You can just feel when something's not of good quality. But it's got a hole in two seconds. It shrinks. I don't want to call anyone out, but I'll say Shein. Who? Who's that? It's a website. It's a wholesale website. And don't get me wrong. I've shopped accessories and certain things from there before. But... I just prefer people to invest into quality pieces and unique pieces because I feel like it builds a better wardrobe and you'll always have something to wear that grows with you as you grow over time. I feel like all the stuff that's kind of trendy and fat type stuff for right now in this moment, it just sucks your pockets dry and ends up being in a trash in a landfill somewhere in the next two years. So what is the trend now? I don't know. I mean, I think a lot of people are into streetwear.
to be honest. That's a vibe. Streetwear has definitely taken over. I think that actually was birthed, though, from the pandemic. I think people were so in the house and comfortable and chilling because, you know, they were ducked off. But they started this thing called streetwear where I can look fly, but I can be comfortable and I can lay around in this loungewear, that kind of aesthetic. So that's been very popular. But I feel like I'm starting to see people really put that shit on. Like, they're coming out of that. It's a new day. Because, like, when I went to school, when I went to school, people dressed. That's what I'm saying. I wanted to get back to that. My niece and nephew, they wearing Crocs and gray sweatpants. That's what I'm saying. Going to classes. Everybody has to be comfortable now. I literally had to get on my son about him wearing, what was it called? Sleepwear? Sleep pants to school? Pajama pants. Yeah. What were you doing? I was like, why are you... We...
We work our ass off. I used to want to go to school to outshine somebody. And y'all going to school to sleep. Don't care. I definitely see that trend as well where a lot of people are just... But I do see the whole other side of it where people really starting to put that shit on. I'm talking like classic silhouettes, collared shirts, the pinstripe, the suits. That is really coming back as well. So I appreciate that side. That's more my vibe anyway. What, classical? Yeah, I like classic silhouettes. I love, like, suits and, you know, different types of skirts and things like that. Just bringing that aesthetic back is very important. That vintage, like, Hilary Banks type of vibe. The old Hilary, not the new Hilary. Not Coco Hilary. Old Hilary for sure. Yeah, the old Hilary. Looking like... Ooh, somebody got something to say. Somebody feels the way.
But she's wearing them pants suits like Hillary Clinton all the time. So, yeah. So, as a woman coming through the fashion business, what obstacles did you have to deal with? Like, was there a lot of obstacles? Because fashion seems to be a women's genre. Not to say, I don't know, but I'm just saying it seems like that. But then the upper top fashion are, like, the old men, like, who family had passed it down to them. But, like, how does it feel coming into that? Understanding... Different dynamics. I feel like compared to when I started, it's a lot more inclusive now. I feel like there's a lot more opportunity and just platforms for black women. Specifically, I have to speak for black women because that's me. For us to be seen and heard and to get that spotlight and that exposure we deserve without having to go to the ends of the earth for it. So it's definitely easier to gain that attention. I just feel like consistency is key.
So now the ball's more in our court. If you're going to wake up and do great content and make sure you're serious about your quality every day, somebody's going to take heed to that and take you serious and start showing and showcasing and resharing your pieces. But if you do it once in a blue moon and you don't get any exposure, I mean, that's on you. So I think it's just made us all have to really step our game up for one. And then two, just take accountability and realize it's no longer we can't say we're not included. I just feel like Now we are in a space in our lives or in society where we can just create our own platforms and our own thing. And it's all about what we do with it. Yeah, that's true. You got to be consistent. So I read in your bio in 2018 you started your business, correct? Yeah, I sure did. Okay, and what was the name of your business? At the time, I've never changed my name. It's always been the third Jesus. Okay, so from doing everything you want to do in 2018, you said I'm going to brand myself and start this stuff. Yeah.
How did that whole branding go for you? Was it a rocky road or was it just straight boom? A lot of people had really helped me. I gotta give people credit who knew what they were doing and who were already in a space of starting businesses. And I feel like by me being able to humble myself and also realize this is a team thing. You can't make it by yourself. So me being able to go to them and ask questions be open about what I don't know and not feel like inadequate or ignorant because I just have questions or I'm not aware of something. That's what really helped me be able to start my business on the legal side, because we can all have a hobby and put a put a name in a bio. But if it's not, if you have no LLC, you don't have sole proprietors, you don't really take the business side serious, then the tax people would be at your desk and at your check.
Oh, you ain't getting no taxes this year. Yeah, exactly. So, I think that's what really made a difference. Like, really being open and honest and doing the research. Like, even to this day, and you'll always be learning. Like, please don't ever think, like, you know every damn thing. You don't. Like, you're always going to be learning. You have to stay a student in this because things are always changing. I had to literally take a course about streetwear because I didn't get it. First of all, where you go where you go get a streetwear course at? like The locals, would you just stay on the corridor watching? What'd you do? No, it was actually an online class they had through, what is the name of the school? It's in New York. I can't think right now. My brain is here. It ain't the Fashion Institute in New York, is it? No, it wasn't that one. It is a good school, though. I just can't think right now. But the point is, I took a course. It was a year-long course. It was an online course, so I could just pace myself. And it basically broke down. It talked about where streetwear originated and
how it formed and all the things it was birthed. So it really was just like an eye opener for me because like I told you, I thought it was, y'all just rolled out of bed. Going to Walmart. And y'all wanted to just put on an old holy t-shirt. And gray sweatpants. And just glad everybody see your business. Just go out there. And $400, $500 shoes. Like that's what I used to think of it. So once I understood the art of it and the background, the history of it, then I could, this is my version of my street wear. You know what I'm saying? Like you can form your own, version, your own style, after you understand it better. So that's what it was important for me to learn. So that's why I said you're always going to be a student, like, no matter what, because you, you don't have all the answers, Sway. How, Sway? How? So, yeah, so what is the history of streetwear so I'll say a lot of it came overseas some of it came LA Brooklyn we got people like that for Dan
You got people like just the people who are like the pioneers, the supreme, the skateboarding. It's literally broad. So I'm giving you just drops. Everybody you said I know, too. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So a lot of it came from the streetwear. I mean, not the streetwear, the skateboard community, because a lot of the pieces that they were selling at the time, they couldn't skate in them. They couldn't skate in these items because it's getting caught in their boards, getting caught under their foot while they're trying to flip the board. Yeah. So they started kind of tailoring items to be for them and for their community. And then it just started blowing up from there. Like Supreme and places like that just started taking off. But yeah, it's just a lot. So you took a course and you still don't like it. No, I do like it. But I had to find a way to make it my own. That's what I meant. I couldn't look at it and judge it as sweatpants and Crocs. Like I had to really find a way to incorporate that mixed with the aesthetics that I like.
the coutures and the avant-garde and those type of styles. So how did you get on Revolt TV and all these different? Oh, so Revolt, shout out to Damn Right Originals. That is one of my friends. She is now based in L.A., but they basically got selected to be viewed, one of our shorts that we did, to be viewed on Revolt. And so I guess they pick different ones every month and they share it. And ours was that month. Congratulations. Thank you. And we did really well with that film. I'm trying to think of the name. I told you. I need to have a list right now. But yeah, we basically did really well because we also had got selected to view it at IMAX Theater in Georgia. And it's just been doing really well at festivals and stuff like the last few years. Yeah, because we've all been having those short films on their channel.
Come on, like, about 10 o'clock. I watched those. Yeah. So that was really dope. And it was also inspiring because, like I said, with you having that moment of imposter syndrome or just uncertainty of knowing if you're doing the right thing, those are always my little, you know, gold coins, if you would. My little checkpoints where I'm like, okay, I'm doing something right. So you're going to fall back into that? Film, yes. I love film, too, though. So you're going to do film, print? I would love to do film. I would love to do film and events moving forward. That's my favorite, too. Okay. I know a filmmaker in waiting, so we'll talk about that later. Put me on. Turn me up, Sway. So would you rather have your stuff printed, you have people walk your stuff, and you have people actually put it on film, like on Revolt TV? So explain to me the day-to-day in building a fashion show in comparison to building a video or a photo shoot. How?
How does those all differ? You're literally right here with me currently because I'm building a fashion show as we speak for an event for Earth Day. And I just wanted to really be inclusive in this because I started realizing the only way you really get stressed and you really feel like giving up is when you're doing stuff alone. So I pulled in, I tapped the shoulder of some of the people around here who I've heard had great events already and who I feel like we're serious about the quality and the craftsmanship of what they're doing. And I pull them in and we just bang night and day trying to make sure everything is turning out right. So how many models are you going to have running? I think this show particularly is going to be about 40 to 60 models. Yeah. And that's 40 to 60 schedules. That's 40 to 60 energies and attitudes. How many changes? Body types.
The good thing about it is we are only doing one look per model. So they're not going to have to go and change. Literally, I'm giving each designer their own set of models. So that helps a lot. But I have done fashion shows where we changed, and it's even more of that. So is this 40 of the most models you ever had? I think for this show particularly, it's just a lot because it's my show. I've been in shows, too. Okay. But this one is like, I'm in production and I'm also being one of the designers for the show. So I'm kind of playing behind the scenes and on the runway as well. So you're going through sleep apnea right now. That's on my brain. It keeps leaving me. I'll be trying to say names and stuff. Stressing everything for no reason. So where would the venue be for your show? That will be at XO Cocktail Lounge. XOXO. They have Encore in the back. That's where the actual show is going to be in the back. And then we'll be having the...
Pre-game slash mixer, and then the after party in the front area. Dope, dope. Congratulations. Thank you. So this is not your first big show in Charlotte, is it? No. I've been a part of two others, but they weren't mine. This is my own idea and show that I'm coming up with. Why Earth Day? It's just so important. I think people overlook it, and I think it's very necessary because I feel like people can really learn a lot of information about how we can help. as far as the community for our carbon footprint. And I feel like to make it in a way where it's fun and it makes people want to be there instead of feeling like you're preaching at people about it, like, recycle, recycle. Like, I don't want to be that. I never want to make people feel uncomfortable because sometimes they just don't know.
So I feel like this is a good way to you know a teaching moment if you would have you always been like that? Or did that come after the thrifting because you basically recycling you through it? Yes And that's why it made sense for my brand and made sense for me to focus on Earth Day because I already do it with thrifting in the fashion part But I want other people to know too outside of that There's a million ways that we can slowly start implementing. It's hard our routine to be able to really start and you know, eliminating and helping the environment in different ways. Eliminating the um global warming and things like that so no so you captain planning really did this number oh i was a fan honey earth it was the song it was a song for me but yeah i think um it really started making sense for me and it really started clicking after i had my son um because i started realizing how us being selfish
It's affecting him and his peers and our future and the kids, not us, because we'll probably be gone when the world starts blowing up or whatever happens. They'll probably be gone, too. It'll be the third or fourth generation from now. But they're going to be the ones who's creating those three, four, fifth generations. And if they're sick and their lungs are falling apart because of us, it's not going to create a birth of healthy kids in the future. Yeah. So you pro-electrical cars and all that? I would love to do that, yes. I'm getting into, I would like to do, I don't want them driving for me. No, no, they crashing and killing people, flipping over this crate. But yeah, I'm definitely pro solar panels, things like that. I think that's a great thing to start to try to go green and take it more seriously. I'm still in a learning place too with that. I'm not waking up every day. I don't think Captain Planet got me on the team yet, but I applied. But you're listening to the sermon, right?
Okay, yeah. I applied, though. Cut the circles out the six pack yes i'm gonna do it i'm gonna save a turtle exactly but i don't know about the rest of the shit, but i got turtles yes exactly but no, you're joking, but that's literally it. If we all just commit to doing like one or two things and consistently do it, that's how it changes over time. Yeah, you got to take it step by step because There's only one earth, and it's a living thing. There is no planet B. Oh man, and I believe, so this is just like my belief. I believe that the earth, well, it is a living creature, right? So at some point, like before when the floods came, that was because it threw up. And when the fires come and the volcanoes erupt, that's going to be the earth throwing up again. We got to calm it down so it won't throw up so bad that it'll, I believe that one day it'll be like Waterworld the movie, where they're going to be selling dirt for products.
I don't know what that movie is, but I'm gonna look it up. It sounds good. You've never seen Waterworld? No. Oh my God. It sounds good. Yeah, it's a good movie. You need to check it out. The whole earth was water and they were selling dirt as money. That's good. And the whole point, everybody was looking for just one magical island. It was a myth that had land and they could never find it. Oh, that's crazy. Well, I ain't gonna spoil it, but you know. Yeah, you're ruining it. Don't watch it. Watch it. Just watch it. Just sit back, throw your feet up and watch Waterworld. But that's literally it. just feel like we just gotta, as a as a whole take it serious and start doing little things we can do daily to fix things, to get it to where we want it to be. It can be fixed. Everything can be fixed some yeah some things can't, but some things most likely can. Some things can be rebuilt and be built better, too. You might not want to fix old things. There might be systems that are outdated but so how can we fix the earth?
i don't know that's another episode i think that's gonna take a lot to sit here and try to figure that out especially with the way the world work but yeah through fashion we could save the world with your styles with it's called waste correct yes waste is the name of the um fashion show and i'm gonna have a marketplace uh next month so what is that may see my brain yeah but yeah may i'll be having a marketplace that's going to be like a Part two, kind of like a follow-up slash after-party vibe. Set up kind of like a block party would be. So you can bring your kids. You ain't got to hide your wives, hide your kids. You can bring them. And you can come out and support a bunch of local vendors. Where's this going to be? It's going to be here in Charlotte. Do you know the location?
I don't yet. We're getting that. I'm all in your damn business. You are in my business. But I'm grateful you're in my business because I do need to figure that out. But I'm waiting on a lady to call me back. But if you do want to tap in, just check my page. It'll definitely be on there. I do definitely have links to all that for you. So what's the end game with your whole brand? There is no end game, to be honest. I can be doing this till like 80. No, I'm saying like how are you going to build thrifting at 80? That's who being there now. The 80s started the thrifting. Exactly. Where do I want to take it? Yeah. Global, international. Oh, it's definitely going to be global because one thing I'm going to do is thrift overseas a lot. Have you done it yet? And I'm going to bring pieces here to the States. Have you thrifted overseas yet? I haven't yet. That's on your market. That's on your wish list. It's coming. Bucket list. It's definitely coming. That's definitely a top five bucket list. That's definitely on there.
Drifting overseas. All over. All over. I know Milan and Italy have a lot of good spots. Africa. I got some friends in Australia. So I'm excited to see how that goes. Just watch the animals that kill you in Australia. The spiders and shit. You always got a story. Australia got the most deadliest animals on the earth. I believe that. So, yeah. I don't plan to be thrifting with them. They're going to be minding their business. You might pick up a pair of pants and they might jump out and be like, yo, take me to America. I'm going to be minding my business. They're going to be over there doing it. I do want to see a kangaroo, though, in person. You want to see a kangaroo over there? I want to see, what's them, the ones that eat the, what's them bears that eat the eucalyptus? Koalas? Yeah. Koalas? They're so cute. I want to see how slow they move. I like them. They're like little sloths. Mm-hmm. So...
So no end game to the brand, just want to build it bigger and better. And what, New York, LA, Atlanta, where? Where is the headquarters? Where's the headquarters? Well, the headquarters clearly has to be Atlanta. That's where it was birthed. I feel like that's like the mecca right now for just black entrepreneurship. And I do feel like I learned and gained so much respect for fashion and for music through Atlanta, so I have to give Atlanta its followers. So you've been to all these different cities, New York, LA, probably Chicago, everywhere. How did you rank Charlotte's fashion in comparison to these hubs? I feel like Charlotte just has so much potential. They do a lot of shows, and they take it very serious. The first show I ever was a part of here was with Heartfelt Fashion, and shout out to them. And they were just...
Because I wasn't even supposed to be one of the stylists in the show. Someone dropped out. And I came in town to visit my friend the day before. And we get there. And I'm introduced. And they're, like, stressed. And I'm like, what is this? I'm like, hi. You know, hey, everybody. You are. And then they're looking at me like, okay, that's nice. Hi, baby. And I started realizing why. Because they were talking about how they had to find another designer. And I talked to God. I had a moment. I said, okay. Let's do it. And I went ahead and found the pieces that night. I went to the thrift store. And I also had mixed it with some of my original pieces too. And the crazy thing is it was for children. And I never styled children to that capacity before. I've only styled maybe over my career probably about five to six kids. To that point. To that point. And then that time it was all children. The entire show for my segment was kids.
And it was just so rewarding. And just seeing their little faces light up and seeing them so excited to walk down, I was just like, oh, my God, I'm so glad I did this. Yeah. So that also kind of sparked me to start wanting to look into doing Thrift Jesus Junior. Uh-oh. And that's going to be the kids' line I wanted to do. All right. So that's the next step. That's also part of the future as well. So the thrifting overseas, Thrift Jesus Junior. And spreading your brand throughout the continental United States of America. Yes, I am. Call me. Before we get out of here, we're about to get up out of here. We're about to get up out of here. You said you had an imposter syndrome. One of the questions I asked here is of course the podcast is called Unqualified Qualification. What time in your life, other than the imposter syndrome, did you feel that you were qualified but the rest of the fashion industry thought that you weren't qualified and you had to show them? I think my entire career is that.
To this day? To this day, because I'm a thrifter. You got to think, you talk about New York Fashion Weeks and these people who are wearing $5,000, $6,000 gowns. When you're coming into these spaces with recycled clothing or upcycled clothing, they're looking at you like, do you even belong here? How did you even get here? I never would have thought of that. I feel like I'm always fighting for not only my rights, but the entire vintage community's rights whenever I'm entering those spaces and receiving awards and things like that for being myself and bringing thrifting to the forefront and standing on it instead of feeling like I have to hide or lie or, you know, try to play the game like my dress is worth $7,000. Like, no, I bought it for $2, but it looked like $7,000. Yeah. You know, so...
I just always felt like people are always going to look at us in that space until we start standing on it and start taking it serious and demanding our respect as a sustainable stylist. I've got a couple more questions that just popped up to my head right now. Is thrifting a cultural thing? How many cultures? Is it like a melting pot of everybody's doing it or is it just like these people are doing it or the moms are doing it? No, it's literally a melting pot. Because there's something for everybody in a thrift store. There's sections for a reason. You got the baby section all the way to the pottery and the homesware. So I feel like it's more about finding your niche and owning in on that and finding the best way you can to market and brand that and shine light on that part of what you do in a thrift store. Because some people flip furniture.
They get furniture out of thrift stores and they flip it and they sell it. They bought it for 20 bucks and they sell it for 200. So I think you just gotta find what's your thing and your passion and then stand on it. Stand on that shit. Stand on that shit. You heard her. Look at the neck. Stand on that shit. Let's get it. Game time. So what awards have you won? I recently won, last year I won through Boss Babe Awards. Fashion stylist of the year. Oh, congratulations. Merry Christmas. Look at you. No, I don't come to the thrift store and tell you, pick that shit, okay? That ain't what we about to do, okay? Thank you. Appreciate it. But yeah, thank you. I appreciate it. I think that was another one of those moments, milestone moments for me, where I was like, okay, yeah. So what would you tell somebody getting into the fashion industry with your experience, and what would you tell the older you as well, the younger you as the older me? Um...
I would pretty much say those are two questions. Yeah, so we're going to go with the first one first because you're all over the place right now. I know, right? We're trying to keep it together. Yeah, yeah. I don't have my list. You just told me you needed a nap. A nap and a list will do you some good. So what would you tell somebody coming into the fashion industry or at least thrifting? What would you tell them as far as breaking in? Like I said, don't try to do what's popular. Do what you really actually are interested in. Do it like... A lot of times people, they gravitate to you because of your own style. So if I dress like a pilgrim and people like that, why are you going to go try to dress like Pharrell or somebody else? Dress like a pilgrim. Own that shit. And stand on it. And make pilgrim creations LLC. Really lean into what you're good at and what you're noticed for. Because people will tell you what you're good at.
what your thing is a lot of times. We just ignore it because we be like, no, actually, I want to be this. But people are, if somebody's always coming up to you like, oh, yo, that's hard, you always got the hardest this, that's probably what you need to be selling. Whatever it is that people are interested in all the time that you do is what you probably need to be doing. But, yeah, I would say definitely stand on it, own it, and don't try to do everything and don't try to be like everybody. That's the main thing for me. And what would you tell the younger you The younger me, hold on to your love. You better sing. You better. Sexy chocolate, baby. That girl can sing. Good Lord. No, seriously, hold on. Get the shoulders and everything. Right, right, right. Don't give up. Don't let where you are in that very moment determine where you're going to be in the future. Because it does change. Things get better. And you'll learn a lot along the way. And you'll also build character and sense of humor and all the things you need to be.
Sitting here with the amazing. V-Mac, she's sleepy. She couldn't think of my name. I knew it started with a V. She was over there. The amazing. That was a good plug though, right? Yeah, it was. You was on point. I was on point. You just didn't finish the script. She's like, the amazing. I told you we need some notes. You need to start with the, you know. I got to have a damn, what's the things that we have in the TV shows? Yeah, it's a little projected behind you. Yeah, read the words, man. Read the words. But the point is. Yes. Anyway. Back to the topic. Yes. I feel like those things are what's going to build your character, your personality, your energy to where you'll be able to help others and have these type of conversations that are meaningful and hopefully inspirational. Well, there's a lot of inspiration, especially since you're doing something on Earth Day. And we do appreciate everything that you've done and everything that you've accomplished. So give the people all the social media tags, websites, however they can get in contact with you. Got you.
Okay, so everything is literally the Thrift Jesus. I am Thrift Jesus's Instagram. You can find me on TikTok, the Thrift Jesus. I would just go to Google because, you know, you can do that or whatever. Google me, bitch. Google me, bitch. And type in the Thrift Jesus on Google and all the things will come up. I have interviews on there. Some of the things he mentioned earlier as far as like what we bought TV and things like that will be on there. Some of my clients and stuff that I've worked with people are going to be on there. So yeah, that's probably the best thing at this point, just Google. But my main point of contact, honestly, right now has been Instagram. That's where I do a lot of networking and connection with people. So if you have any questions or if you want to work with me, then DM me and I will definitely get back to you. Okay. And before we leave, you going to hit us with a hot flow? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No. Next episode. All right, everybody. Thank y'all for listening and watching.
Unqualified Qualifications. I'm Comedian V-Mac. Unqualified Qualifications Instagram. Comedian V-Mac Instagram. And we're out. Tell everybody goodbye. Be great.