Mar 27, 2023
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 a collective episode about the
Brooklyn Flea, which re-opens for the season this weekend (April
1-2!). Founded 15 years ago, in April 2008 by Jonathan Butler and
Eric Demby, Brooklyn Flea has grown into one of New York City’s top
attractions, operating flea markets that feature hundreds of top
vendors of furniture, vintage clothing, collectibles and
antiques.
First up, you’ll hear from co-founder Eric Demby, and
then later on in the episode, three incredible vintage dealers who
have been with the flea since its early days.
We’ll speak with Francois of Of Leisure who was a
fashion photographer for 10 years before he started selling French
and American vintage at the Brooklyn Flea in 2013.
Then we’ll chat with Travis, the owner of The Hood
Haberdasher, who grew up between Brooklyn, Miami and Jamaica, and
started his full time vintage passion about 15 years ago - bringing
“statements, not staples”home to Brooklyn to the Flea.
And finally we speak to Thea Grant, about the family
first jewelry business she and her husband Nico started in
Brooklyn, and their extensive range of vintage, antique and
handmade jewelry.
It was such a joy to hear from them what being a part
of the Brooklyn Flea all these years has meant to them – so let’s
just dive right in!
DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:
- [2:05] Eric Demby, co-founder of
the Brooklyn Flea, tells stories about taking the train to New York
City, as a teengager from Connecticut, to shop vintage.
- [7:00] While working in local
politics, Eric notices that tourists start to visit Brooklyn, but
they don’t know exactly where to go.
- [11:42] Eric’s partner, Jonathan
Butler - founder of Brownstoner, hosted an event called ‘Salvage
Fest’ in 2007, in a schoolyard in Clinton Hill.
- [14:28] On the vintage scene in
Brooklyn in 2008.
- [15:58] Etsy starts-up in
downtown Brooklyn, but they’re focused on handmade goods – not
vintage – at the time. They have a booth in the early Flea.
- [19:21] Opening day on April 6,
2008
- [25:11] Curating the selection at
the Brooklyn Flea.
- [32:07] What to expect when the
Brooklyn Flea opens for the season, April 1-2, 2023
- [35:23] Francois, of Of Leisure,
shares his story with vintage fashion, including learning to sell
vintage clothes working at the flea market in Paris while he’s
there as a student.
- [42:44] On turn-of-century French
vintage and workwear.
- [54:10] Travis of Hood
Haberdasher shares his story with vintage and the Flea, growing up
at the Flea, and meeting his wife there!
- [1:11:00] Thea Grant shares the
story of the antique and vintage jewelry business that she and her
husband Nico started in Brooklyn.
- [1:22:00] Around 8 years ago,
Thea & Nico saw the wholesale jewelry business changing a lot and
started to rethink how they would do business direct to
customers.
- [1:44:55] On vintage Bakelite
jewelry.
EPISODE MENTIONS:
LET'S CONNECT:
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
