Dillon Wade imports clothing in bulk from Miami.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
What began as a side project at the Local Barber Co in Kyabram has developed into a fully fledged clothing store in town.
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Dillon Wade opened States Vintage in May after noticing customers at his barber shop showing interest in a range of pre-loved clothing he had on display for sale.
“A lot of people gravitated towards it, so I sat on it for a couple of years,” he said.
“I enjoy barbering, but it was getting a bit repetitive. I thought I might as well look at going into clothing because there’s not many options for clothing in Kyabram.”
Opening a separate business made sense to Mr Wade, as the barber shop is a male-dominated space, and he wanted to include women’s clothing in the store.
His current range caters to all genders and has recently expanded into kids wear, which has already proved popular with customers.
The store’s decor, including an arcade machine, a retro television and a United States flag curtain on the changing room, follows its product’s American vintage theme.
Jumpers, jackets, shirts, tees, pants, shorts and headwear are among the vintage products on offer at the store.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Mr Wade said all of his products came from Miami in bulk shipments, which allowed him to choose broad categories but not specific items.
He can opt for different brands, such as Tommy Hilfiger or Ralph Lauren, and select the type of clothing, but specific sizes and details are left to the supplier.
“It’s almost like a mystery box for me,” Mr Wade said.
“Because it’s all vintage, it’s pretty much one-of-one. So if there’s a cool jumper here someone likes, and it’s their size, they can’t get it anywhere else.”
On top of the clothing’s uniqueness, the business itself is somewhat of a rarity in regional Victoria, with the next closest similar store in Bendigo.
“Outside of that, it’s all city-based. And then again because it’s vintage clothing, what we have here is going to be different to Melbourne and Bendigo,” Mr Wade said.
While trade was better than anticipated over the past two months, Mr Wade expects the warmer months to bring in more foot traffic and sales.
He plans to build on the store’s vintage-themed decor over time, and continue offering distinct clothing to customers.
“The main thing for people to know is that it’s a place you can get affordable brands, and it’s all in very, very good quality,” Mr Wade said.
For more information, search for @states.vintage on Instagram.
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