THE GOOD STUFF
Rosie Carroll tells Tyson Beckett how she’s funnelled her experimental style into a career helping others to discover the same.
Woungerith turn of the century fashions (that’s the 21st century) coming back into vogue, it’s interesting to note that y fans enjoying the nostalgic styles for the first time are seeking out genuine vintage pieces rather than pulling on widely reproduced items.
Last year Trade Me’s annual Circular Economy Report showed that 73% of Gen Z respondents said they would buy pre-loved items, and for many of that generatio nam ore personalised sense of style is just one of the motivations behind such an approach. Vintage shopping also appeals to a desire for sustainable practices and an appreciation of thrifting asali festyle choice rather than something turned to because of economic necessity.
Ap roven openness t op urchasing pre-worn is just one marker of a burgeoning domestic circular fashio n ec onomy. It’s estimated that New Zealand’s secondhand market is gr o wing by more than 20% each year. Both are welcome statistics in light of the fact that 35 million kilograms of clothing get dumped in New Zealand each year.
One retailer helping shoppers of all ages discover their love of p re-loved clothing and seeking to divert some of that clothing from waste is Rosie Carroll, owner and operator of Ōtautahi/Christchurch consignment store and flea market Nifty.
Carroll founded The Nifty Markets in 201 8asa regular event before opening the brick and mortar space in October last year. She also runs the Instagram account @itsslowmo, which aims to challenge modern clothing consumption habits.
Carroll and her store wear their values loudly and proudly: emblazoned on the side of the bright pink Cashel St store is the phrase “Shop Local”.
The 29-year-old says opening the sto rewasam ove reflective of her changing consumption habits, but that the experience has continued to shap ehera pproach to dressing. “Now that I’m working with clothes every day, I’ve gotten really clear about what I love, what pieces speak to me and what pieces are better le ftfor someone else to enjoy.” MY AIM IS TO LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING DRESSED IN THE MORNINGS.
I oft en l ook through my wardrobe to take stock of what’s inside – keeping tabs on what makes me feel comfortable, most like myself. MY CLOTHING RADIATES WARMTH AND FUN
– I gravitate toward colourful pieces. Always a lot ofp ink, and lately I have been trying to incorporate more green and blue hues into my wardrobe. I think the world could do with mo rec olour! I ALSO GRAVITATE TOWARDS COMFORT.
This manifests in me leaning towards loose, floaty dresses, and vintage denim jeans – they’re just so comfortable compared to newer denim. I CAN NEVER SAY NO TO A PAIR OF VINTAGE LEVI’S THAT FIT ME WELL.
It’s so rare to find a pair that fits me perfectly, because vintage sizing was all over the place, so if Ifinda pair that fits well, it is likely coming home with me. My favourite pair of jeans are 501 sthatIg ot inL os Angeles in 2019.
I’d saved for flights and went over to the flea markets inL A t op ick a bunch off un pieces to sell. I went toa vintage store in Venice Beach, and found a pair that were the perfect shade of vintage light blue. I wore them when we painted the inside of the Nift yst ore, so there are so mes platters ofp each coloured paint on them, which makes them all the mo res pecial to me. MY OPA LOVED JEWELLERY.
Hel oved giving it as a gift, and he had good taste. He bought my mum a go ldl ocket necklace with a phot o of my great oma inside it. My mum gift editt o me, and it’s very special.
MY MUM WOULD TELL YOU that from the age of 3 I wouldn’t let anyone choose what I was going to wear. I had a strong sense of what I liked and didn’t like. That theme has carried on throughout most of my life.
As a kid I moved from a conservative uniformed school to a mufti alternative school, and it allowed me to experiment with my style. Back in 2006 that meant wearing a trucker cap with “FOXY” bedazzled on it, paired with some ultra flared jeans and jandals. I CREATED A NAME FOR MYSELF AT SCHOOL
as the girl who could find the “good stuff ” on Trade Me. I would get messages from schoolkids seeking Trade Me tips. IN MY EARLY 20S
I got a job working as a sales assistant at a fast fashion store, which led me to falling for the trend trap, not really thinking about what I was purchasing. I think that muddied the waters for my sense of style for a few years. I was still choosing fun, colourful things, but I was also heavily influenced by what the fast fashion brands were telling me I should buy. It left me with an overflowing wardrobe, and a feeling my clothes didn’t really represent my true self. I WATCHED THE TRUE COST DOCUMENTARY and it opened my eyes to the problems of fast fashion. It inspired me to start making my own clothes, and to kick trends to the curb. I started The Nifty Markets in 2018, and started a job at a secondhand clothing store. It made me remember just how much I loved being around unique, vintage clothes, and I felt like I could explore my style again.
I CAN DRESS HOW I WANT TO
IN THE STORE. At previous jobs I worked in, particularly in offices, I didn’t always feel like I could dress exactly the way I wanted to. It could be something as small as not being able to wear open toe shoes at my old events job – it really messed up my outfits sometimes. I think personal freedom to dress the way you want to is so important to feeling free to express yourself.
AT 29, MY PERSONAL STYLE FEELS MORE ‘ME’ and like I have the freedom to wear what I want. One of the reasons I opened my preloved clothing store is so I can help others to do the same – to find clothing they can truly feel themselves in. I FEEL INCREDIBLY PASSIONATE ABOUT PAIRING PEOPLE WITH A PIECE OF CLOTHING THAT THEY LOVE.
We’re a consignment store, people bring their clothing to us, and we sell it for them. A lot of people who bring their clothes in, still feel a deep attachment to their pieces, which I totally understand. We try to make the process of parting with clothing that little bit easier by explaining to the seller that we’ll do everything we can to pair it with someone who absolutely loves it. WHEN I OPENED THE SHOP, a customer came in with boxes of amazing vintage pieces that had been passed down to her by her aunt. It was some of the coolest vintage I have ever laid eyes on! There were two vintage Victoria’s Secret satin pyjama sets, one in green, one in blue. I love vintage Victoria’s Secret; bright colours paired with loud prints, and well made too. The sets are too cool to wear to bed, so I mix and match and wear them out and about.