open collective vintage interview

Sounding a little like the kind of underground band you'd find rocking out in a sticky-floored neighbourhood pub, Open Collective are a vintage store bringing top-notch secondhand duds from New York right to our doorstep in Australia.

Recently collaborating with Melbourne snapper Danielle Chau on a colourful photoshoot, owner Naomi Batiste had a chat with Danielle and her pal Rawinia Judson about her inspiration, style, and of course, the Big Apple.



How did Open Collective begin? It all started in June while I was visiting New York - there's such an abundance of cool vintage clothing there, especially in Brooklyn, and you just can't find that sort of stuff in op shops back home. Here if you do find anything, you get so excited and consider yourself extremely lucky – but in Brooklyn it just isn't like that, you can go into a thrift shop and walk out with a bag full of clothes. So we thought it would be such an exciting project to be able to bring New York thrifting back to Australia. We knew everyone back home would love it.

What made you fall in love with New York? The energy! It's like there is this constant buzzing, in the most inspiring way. It's like just being there can evoke epiphanies and revelations. Everybody is on their own mission and is doing what they can to keep up with the city. I think the people who live in NYC are so driven to live this 'New York life' that they are constantly moving, constantly thinking, and that is what makes them unique – hence having the coolest style in the world!

What is your favourite current piece to wear right now? My vintage Timberlands that I found in a thrift shop in Brooklyn. I've been 
incorporating them into most outfits. I LOVE Timberlands, but these ones are different from the usual boots you see people wear in Australia – they're a brighter shade of yellow and a smooth leather. They're pretty bad-ass.

How do you describe New York vintage? Nostalgia with a hint of irony.

Who are your style icons? I don't really look up to anyone in that kind of way. My style changes daily - every day I choose who I want to be. That's what I love most about secondhand clothes; they're a mix of different people's style. The combination of all these different items from different lives is so inspiring to me. You have to trust yourself and what you feel comfortable in – not what somebody else is telling you. I gave up on that type of fashion a while ago!

What kind of items can we expect to see from Open Collective? At the moment we're predominately female-focused, but you can expect a men's line in the very near future, drenched with bold retro party shirts and vintage caps.



Check out more of what Open Collective has to offer on Instagram @opencollective or on their facebook page.

Words by Rawinia Judson, pics courtesy of Danielle Chau.