S9 Ep35 CIRCLE OF FRIENDS: Hilliary Bianca Salamanca - on on building community through circularity and restoring a Brooklyn townhouse with vintage finds.

On today's show, we're chatting with Hilliary—a vintage collector and event producer who's building community at the intersection of sustainability and style.

Hilliary is the founder of Circle of Friends, where she hosts The Stoop Series—a live interview series that's making circular fashion accessible and inspiring. With Circle of Friends, she's using her platform to elevate the voices of vintage dealers, sustainable brands, and circular economy innovators, showing people why secondhand should always be the first choice.

And if you're a collector yourself, you're going to love this conversation.

In this episode, Hilliary shares her journey with circular fashion – how she fell in love with vintage markets while studying abroad in Florence, to her growing silver collection of hosting and homewares. Plus, how she's restoring a 1899 Brooklyn townhouse entirely with vintage and secondhand finds.

Oh yeah – and we talk Brimfield, she's a Brimfield fanatic, just like me. What I love about Hilliary's approach is that she's building a vintage-filled life through relationships and community – she's built connections with vendors at markets like Brimfield who remember her, save pieces for her, and have become genuine friends. Very within the ethos of Circle of Friends.

This is a really fun one – let's dive right in!

DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:

• [4:20] Hilliary grew up a fashion-lover, and her first big purchase was saving up to buy a Kate Spade backpack.
• [7:44] Her journey into a sustainable fashion career.
• [13:14] Starting "Something Borrowed Never New" - her original Substack focused on re-use during wedding season
• [17:08] Why she started Circle of Friends and The Stoop Series
• [20:37] Conversations that have expanded her understanding of circularity - from fashion to food to home
• [26:36] Restoring a 1899 Brooklyn townhouse entirely with vintage and secondhand finds.
• [35:07] Her go-to Brimfield fields and vendors
• [42:10] How she's building and using her vintage silver collection for hosting
• [48:31] Learning upholstery to restore vintage furniture herself

EPISODE MENTIONS:

• Hilliary Bianca Salamanca
• @yourcircleoffriends
• Hilliary's Substack
• I did the Stoop Series with Circle of Friends!
• Terratela
• Terratela on Circle of Friends
• Helena Elston Studio
• Helena on Circle of Friends
• Rachel Glicksberg
• Don't Let Disco
• Ashley from Don't Let Disco on Pre-Loved Podcast

LET'S CONNECT:

• 📸Instagram: @emilymstochl
• 🐦Threads: @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
• Kathy Brand
• Lisa of Queenie & Pearl
• KT
• Lydia Welp
• Michael A.
• Megan Morris
• Jennifer
• Alana Rivero
• Jerrica Yasumura