S7 Ep26 BLACK RABBIT VINTAGE: owner, Madelyn - on loving and restoring old things, recovering from a devastating fire, and the special stories attached to cherished garments.

Sep 4, 2023

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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 episode is with Madelyn of Black Rabbit Vintage, based out of Benton Park in St. Louis. Madelyn has long been a vintage lover – she loves restoring old things to their former glory and passing on stories associated with vintage garments.

She says she’s been sewing for as long as she was allowed to touch a machine, and since high school she knew she wanted to own her own space – maybe vintage, maybe vinyl, maybe old books? But now, 15 years later she does it all! We hear her whole story with opening Black Rabbit Vintage on today’s show.

Tragically, in late June, around when we filmed this, Madelyn learned that Sk8 Libourious, an indoor skate park and community center in North City was on fire – the destruction of this space was devastating in its own right, but it was also where Madelyn stored a large amount of Black Rabbit Vintage’s back store. Luckily, her storage room did not fully burn in the fire and she was able to get a majority of my things out of the building, but it has been a long restoration and recovery journey.

A journey which we talk about on today’s show – I also want to flag that there is a GoFundMe page for Black Rabbit’s recovery efforts linked in the shownotes, if you’re inclined to help out another vintage-lover.

All this and more in today’s episode, so let’s just dive right in!

DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:

[7:19] Madelyn grew up with a love of old things and church basement rummage sales, and we discuss her journey to owning a vintage store.
[12:51] Taking part in pop-ups and markets across St. Louis.
[19:52] Opening her shop in Benton Park.
[22:34] Recovering from the fire at Sk8 Libourious, where Black Rabbit Vintage’s back stock was stored.
[27:46] The recovery process to restore pieces damaged from the fire.
[37:00] The incredible stories that go along with vintage garments.
[43:26] Madelyn has a special love for vintage jewelry, and we chat about restoring it.
[45:36] On personal style, and favorite pieces in Madelyn’s personal collection.

EPISODE MENTIONS:

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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
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Lucero Buendia
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Lisa of Queenie & Pearl
Lucille of Galipette Vintage
KT
Kelly Van Hecke
Lydia Welp
Anastacia Banicke of Goods & Provisions