With vintage style and fashion on the rise with a renewed hipster movement, the website Etsy.com has become the go-to place to buy and sell vintage goods, from clothing to home decor and accessories.
Brittany Torres, who grew up in Southampton and now lives in East Quogue, said she jumped on the bandwagon about a year ago and has been selling strong on the site ever since under the name Hamptons Vintage.
"I had a lot of vintage items and wanted to make a little extra money," said Torres, who is working to become a real estate agent and is currently employed at Revolve Hair and Therapy Clothing, both in Southampton.
Torres said she started small, listing a few things, but finding that they were popular, she decided to expand, asking family members and distant cousins for items to sell and eventually heading out to yard sales, estate sales and thrift shops across the Hamptons.
Now, she says keeps her online store stocked with 120 items at a time.
"If I have anymore, it becomes hard to keep track," said Torres, who says Etsy is a great way to share items that would otherwise be discarded.
In stocking her store, Torres said she shops savvy and selects items that she believes have a good chance of getting sold. She also is sure to do her homework, researching the items to find a perfect price point.
Torres said another benefit of Etsy is an opportunity to connect with people from other areas of the country and around the world.
"I've sold to people in California, Australia, Japan and Denmark — there is an allure of having something from the United States and the Hamptons," she said, adding that customers from other countries say they get more quality garments from the United States at a cheaper price.
Affordability is another reason why Torres believes people are flocking to her store.
"You can get a designer piece or quality item for much cheaper if it is used," she said. "Or even pieces that no one else has or that have some history to them.
And with that, she said customers have even started emailing her with specific requests.
"One girl wanted needlepoint slacks in a certain size. I happened to find them and she wound up buying them," Torres said.
Her most popular items are vintage clothing, but she said she also sells vintage house goods, books, and shoes. One of the most unique items she sold was a pair of original Nike Ocean Sneakers that featured a Nike swoosh. And the item she sold but was sad to part with: an old, carpet tapestry, duffel bag that a customer bought for $80.
