Community Member Spotlight: Emily Bryngelson
Name:
Emily
Age:
34
Location:
Philadelphia, PA
How long have you been shopping and/or selling resale?
I have been buying secondhand, vintage, and resale for most of my life as a core part of my personal wardrobe. I’ve had the idea for my upcycling brand, Sibling, for about 7 years but really only had the opportunity to fully pursue it during the pandemic and the brand was born late 2020.
What are your favorite places (physical and/or digital) to shop fashion resale?
Etsy and Ebay are my go-tos, but I also frequent The RealReal and Depop, and lots of local secondhand and thrift.
What are your favorite places (physical and/or digital) to sell fashion resale or consign?
I sell a lot of my personal wardrobe on Depop with a lot of success. Consistency is key. I started my upcycling brand selling exclusively through Instagram before I built my own site.
What is your favorite piece you’ve ever purchased resale?
Probably the Romeo Gigli earrings I got for my wedding. I was searching for six months and couldn't find the perfect thing, and when I stumbled upon them everything just made sense (they were nothing like what I was looking for, but ended up being so “me” in the end).
What makes you feel confident?
Having a wardrobe that really represents me and is very edited and well cared for. I have really come to love every single piece in my closet and it’s to the point where I don’t have to think much anymore about getting dressed because each piece feels like me. It makes me consider much more deeply about adding pieces to it, knowing that 85% of my wardrobe consists of pieces I bought 3-7 years ago or are vintage/resale/thrift.
What is one of your current ambitions?
To collaborate with larger companies turning their unsold inventory into gold.
What makes you laugh?
My dog, Lou, is a constant source of laughter.
What’s your go-to resale shopping or selling tip/advice?
I always say to have a goal before you shop. Just because it’s discounted or ”cheap” doesn't mean you should buy it if it doesn’t serve a purpose for you – used waste is still waste. I actually hate leafing through thrift racks or scrolling pages of products so I make mood boards of the pieces I’m looking for and stay focused on searching only for those things and it makes it all so much more digestible.