Sustainability Looks Good On You, Babe
Our love affair with online vintage shop, Zarazuela
Believe it or not, thrifting online is a lot like dating. You start off by swiping through dozens of photos trying to find the right piece that catches your eye. You begin by reading through the listing description to see what makes that piece special…”what aren’t you telling me?” You think to yourself. From size to color, fabric to length, you begin checking all the boxes that tell you it’s really meant to be. You hit purchase and bam, you’re ready for your first date. And let me tell you, finding the perfect thrifted piece online is so much more rewarding than finding the perfect guy. The way it’ll hug your body in all the right places is truly unmatched. Allllllrright…maybe I’m being a little dramatic. But you can’t deny the instant gratification when you find the one. And in recent months, as we all start to become more conscious about our consumption it’s important that we find online shops that are doing the same. So, in honor of the love affair we have with online shopping, we decided to do a spotlight on one of our favorites. Zarazuela is an online shop featuring a selection of specially curated vintage pieces that you’ll fall in love with instantly, and we never lie about romance.
Founded by Amelie Scheil, Zarazuela is an effortlessly modern ode to the timeless fashion of the 70’s. Inspired by her undivided love for fashion, Zarazuela came to Scheil when she realized that she could no longer come to terms with the detriment of the fashion industry and the relentless production of fast fashion brands. After seamlessly combining her love of trend sourcing, sustainability and creative marketing, Zarazuela was born— a collection of chic and eccentric one of a kind vintage gems that will have you experiencing some major love at first sight. “Zarazuela is an ode to the 70s, but with a modern twist. The aesthetic is inspired by the mishmash of 70s fashion subcultures: hippie-meets-Edwardian prairie dresses, “power clothes,” funky prints, and blue jean uniforms. Women used fashion as a form of self-expression, touching on different identities—feminine and masculine, formal and rebellious—by dressing in different prints, shapes, colors, and textures. Zarazuela is reliving that era, combining the vintage Levi’s that you know and love with silky fabrics and delicate prints into a single collection of curated vintage.” Scheil tells HOKU.
And in addition to her incredible ability to curate unique and unparalleled vintage collections that contribute to a more circular environment, Scheil also mentions that she is focusing on becoming more inclusive and diverse. As a one woman team, Scheil opened up about her self-reflection as a creator and prioritized her mission in being a catalyst for active change. “It’s so important to me that followers and myself are part of a diverse community that celebrates the hard work of vintage curators equally. I’ve started by being more mindful about who I interact with online. As I run this business, solo, I know I will make mistakes along the way, but if I can hold myself accountable to those blindspots and normalize making changes, I can make my shop and the community I work in a safe space where people of color are represented.” And in the world where sustainability and fashion must co-exist, it’s so important for us to do this type of self reflection. Not only has Scheil reminded us all about the individual power we have to evoke change, but she’s also proving to be an awe-inspiring game changer in the vintage fashion community.
Her most recent collection features timeless pieces that will never go out of style— she mentions high waisted trousers, vintage jeans, scarves, dresses and skirts. “In this collection, you’ll see a couple references: the “power suit,” which was a formal, masculine attire that became popular once the workforce had reached the highest number of employed women for the first time; the blue jean uniform—a timeless staple; and silks and dresses inspired by the delicate prints from hippie prairie dresses.” (Pinch me, I’m dreaming!).
When you shop Zarazuela, not only are you being more conscious, but you’re also supporting a brand that has focused on doing everything right. From her minimal and timeless branding to the curation of her pieces and everything in between, Scheil has reminded us all of the unmatched feeling you get when you find the one.
