S7 Ep910 GIRL OF THE EARTH: upcycler, Ruby - on growing up to antique-dealer parents in New York, concerns about deadstock, and starting her own brand with post-consumer vintage fabrics.

Pre-Loved Podcast is a weekly vintage fashion interview show, with guests you’ll want to go thrifting with! For more Pre-Loved Podcast, subscribe to our Patreon!

Today’s show is with Ruby, founder of Girl of the Earth, an NYC-based upcycled brand made from vintage-fabric-remnants dating from 1940-1999.

Ruby grew up to antique-dealer parents in New York City, so she’s been in the vintage world since day-one. After graduating with a Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship from London College of Fashion, where she wrote her dissertation on fast fashion, and the industry’s detrimental use of deadstock, she went on to start her own brand made from post-consumer vintage fabrics.

We talk about her commitment to few-of-a-kind styles, the beautiful kitsch of vintage fabrics, and the complexities of the fabric food chain, if you will. 

DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:

• [2:24] Growing up with antique-dealer parents in New York City, and spending her afternoons at her mom’s vintage shops in SoHo.
• [7:47] Ruby goes to college in London and starts to work in the industry at Jaeger, a British heritage fashion brand, in their fashion archives.
• [9:55] How Ruby landed on upcycling, amidst all the options and potential routes of the vintage and sustainable fashion industry.
• [11:26] On the complex reality  of “deadstock” in the fabric and fashion supply chain.
• [18:20] Sourcing the first pieces of vintage fabric for her upcycling brand.
• [19:44] What makes vintage fabric so special.
• [26:20] The passion that’s needed to run your own fashion brand. 
• [28:03] On personal style, and how we can be inspired by trends and also avoid micro-trends.
• [35:50] Ruby is working on an exciting new project with her mom, who now sells vintage jewelry, particularly unique diamonds.

EPISODE MENTIONS: 

• Girl of the Earth
• @girloftheearth
• The Jaeger: a British heritage brand
• Beacon’s Closet
• Girl of the Earth’s Patreon
• @chelseagirl.nyc

LET’S CONNECT: 

• 📸Instagram: @emilymstochl
• 🐦Twitter: @emilymstochl
• 🎥TikTok: @emilymstochl
• 📧 Substack: https://prelovedpod.substack.com/ 
• 🎧Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/prelovedpod 

SPECIAL THANKS: 

A special thanks goes out to my Patron Insiders – your support makes Pre-Loved Podcast possible!

• Patty Weber
• Beverley Docherty of Wolfe Pack Vintage
• Danny of Galaxy Live
• Kathy Brand
• Lucero Buendia
• Tricia Zelazny
• Leslie V.
• Lisa of Queenie & Pearl
• Trudy