Inspired by thrifting videos on YouTube and the environmental impact of fast fashion, junior Andrea Anaya started selling handpicked vintage clothing in 2022. Starting small with a local swap meet and moving to more significant events such as the Fresno Art Hop, Andrea’s business, Thrifty Rag Doll, has flourished, contributing to clothing sustainability and serving her well.
When asked about the growth in her business, she said, “It was there, I realized how much people actually enjoyed secondhand fashion and that it was something that brought me joy.” She adds, “Thrifting is a great way to shop sustainably… it keeps clothes out of landfills, and vintage clothing is much more durable, good quality, and unique.”
Andrea is passionate about clothing’s impact on the environment, stating how important “…being sustainable is, especially in 2024.”
She also explains her thoughts on fast fashion and its adverse effects, including the working conditions in which cheap clothes are made, the wages, and the child labor used in such places. On the bright side, however, thrifting provides affordable, durable clothing that allows for good style and a clean conscience.
As for Andrea’s individual style and the overall essence of her brand, she’s “…still exploring different aesthetics at the moment, but [leaning] more toward the Y2K aesthetic.”
Y2K refers to the year 2000 and the fashion inspired by it. Her handpicked items on clothing racks and her products online show the 2000s bright colors, playful patterns, and unique textures. Andrea doesn’t shy away from the bold pieces of the 2000s era, either. She features both vintage winter wear and statement summer pieces such as tank tops and denim mini skirts. This is no surprise, considering her inspiration is drawn from prominent films like Mean Girls, Clueless, and the 2000s pop icon Brittney Spears.
“My favorite part about Thrifty Rag Doll is getting to explore different areas of fashion,” Andrea attests. “Another thing I love is seeing the great variety of people who shop in my booth. In my shop, there’s something for everyone.”
Andrea’s shop can be found at thrifting expos, vintage flea markets, Fresno’s Art Hop, and other community events. Upcoming pop-up events for Thrifty Rag Doll include the Bad Girls Market in downtown Fresno on March 16th and The Kern County Vintage Flea on March 17th. The Fresno Art Hop is Andrea’s personal favorite and takes place on the first Thursday of every month.
“There’s food, music, live performances, and many small businesses to shop from, not just vintage vendors but jewelry vendors, artists, and more,” she explains.
To prepare for such an exciting experience, Andrea visits second-hand stores up to two weeks in advance, handpicking her favorite items to resell.
“Afterward, I prep the clothes by cleaning them, tagging them, and making them look presentable in my booth,” she says.
This task of shopping, cleaning, prepping, and primping is challenging, so Andrea enlists the support of her family and friends.
“My parents are the ones who take me to all my events and take me sourcing for my new items every weekend, and there are no words to express how much I love them for that,” said Andrea. “Without them, I would not be where I am today.”
With a grateful heart, Andrea hopes to expand Thrifty Rag Doll by boosting her social media and sales online for more exposure and accessibility to thrifters everywhere. She’s building her community online already by posting hauls to social media regularly, showing off her featured clothing, advertising her pop-ups, reposting her fellow thrifters, creating reels, and more.
Help her further accomplish her goal by following her Instagram and TikTok @thriftyragdoll and visiting her booth during Thrifty Rag Doll’s next event appearance!