I find it immensely comforting to walk down Pearl Street and encounter the same warm, familiar faces year after year. One of the things I love most about the Boulder Lifestyle is the sense of intimacy in this community. Growing up in Boulder, I took this for granted—and I had to move away, then return, to understand how meaningful the felt sense of community is here. It was a motivator for creating a business that relies on community collaboration to thrive.
In (dun-dun-dun) 2020, when both Crossroads and Buffalo Exchange closed, I was heartbroken. Yes, it was devastating that I’d have no secondhand stores to buy, sell and trade with. Yet mostly I was struck by the tragedy that I’d have little to no exposure to beloved characters in the community that are as committed to the secondhand lifestyle as I am.
Feeling a kinship with these folks made me feel less alone. I felt I had allies in my devotion to slowing the climate crisis. I felt my artistry as a stylist, reflected in their enthusiasm for their own stylistic expression. I saw their resourcefulness as a reminder of my calling to champion ethical consumption. Grief flooded me as I was struck by the fact that I might lose this sense of belonging.
The alchemy of this heartbreak, and my hope for the future of our planet, was the catalyst for creating Apocalypse. My intent was to create a communal space where people could come experiment with their creativity and connect with others who were also exploring identity through their wardrobe. Recycling old outfits, ultimately old parts of ourselves, to try on a new look that's fresh and expansive. A place to reincarnate our past selves and our old clothes simultaneously.
Here we are in 2024 and our resale community in Boulder is stronger than ever. Three buy-sell-trades have opened up within blocks of Apocalypse over the past two years! Our local secondhand economy is thriving because of this collaborative community, who are co-creating a future worthy of our descendants. One that is centered on inclusion, remedying the climate crisis through conscious consumption, and expressing our creativity through all aspects of our humanity.
So, I want to introduce you to some folks in this community who inspire me! They're secondhand mavens and magicians, lifelong devotees of personal expression. Some I met 10 years ago in the checkout line at Common Threads, and some I’m just getting to know in the aisles of Apocalypse. They are fixtures in the community, style icons, thought leaders, change-makers and joy bringers. I hope you're as inspired as I am by their creativity, resourcefulness and iconic sense of style!
Brigitte Mars
Herbalist, Author, Professor at Naropa University, Boulder Resident for 45 Years
What is your earliest memory of secondhand?
"When I was a junior in high school I bought an opera coat from a senior. It was vintage then, made out of black velvet with purple satin lining. It’s been my protective companion through many storms and adventures since I was 15 years old, and it’s still hanging in my closet amongst my purple/velvet collection. I’m greatly comforted by its warmth and softness."
Eric Rodgers
Creator, Generational Curse Breaker, Founder of Ricky's Closet, Boulder Resident for 6 Years
Who first inspired your connection to fashion?
"For as long as I can remember, I've felt a connection to fashion. My reselling business, Ricky's Closet, was inspired by my father who passed away when I was four years old. He was a very sharp, well-dressed man, with impeccable style. I think it's safe to say that he handed his sense of style down to me. Like my dad, I like finding clothes that stand out, instead of blindly sticking to trends."
Avery Lee Oatman
Goldsmith, Lapidarist, Jewelry Designer at Avery Lee Design, Born and raised in Boulder
How has secondhand played a foundational role in your life?
"Every summer my cousins and I would get together at our grandparents' house and play with a huge chest full of costume jewelry. My Granny, Jean, acquired the box at an estate sale and I remember all of us dancing around decked out in gold-plated chains and clip-on imitation emeralds. Every time we went through the box it felt like we had our hands buried in treasure. I still get that giddy feeling when I shop secondhand like there are literal 'gems' waiting to be discovered."
Pavanjeet
Kundalini Yoga Teacher & Western Astrologer, Boulder Resident for 11 Years
How has resale guided you in finding your personal style?
"At 15, my first trip to Thrift Town was a revelation. Giant 70s glasses, $5 Dior cashmere, vintage tees and dinosaur broaches! I’d found a goldmine deep in the heart of boring Texas. The uncurated hodgepodge let me build a style from whatever caught my eye—combining eras, high and low, and genders, with all things grandma. I'm still holding onto some of those early finds today!"
Salihah Moore
Artist & Designer at Salihah Moore, Boulder Resident for 10 Years
Who first championed your connection to secondhand?
"My parents! They were incredible at finding treasures in thrift stores. We stopped at all the yard sales and got secondhand clothes from the mosque. My dad found a rocking lion once. When you pressed its ear, it roared. They inspired a sense of adventure in the hunt!"
Paul Cure
Writer & Owner of Mea Culpa Productions, Boulder Resident for 25 years
What was your earliest influence that led you to the secondhand lifestyle?
"I grew up in Grosse Pointe Michigan and frequented a secondhand music store in Detroit called Car City Classics. A bunch of us young punks would scour the vinyl section looking for Misfits records or some obscure Japanese print of Miles Davis—the discovery was pure elation. In terms of fashion, I would see these distressed jeans, flannels, Converse, or broken-in loafers in a Ralph Lauren ad, and I realized I could only find that look secondhand."
Emmy Swenson
Razor Hair Cutting Specialist at Sage Studio Salon, Founder of The Found Collective, Boulder Resident for 18 Years
What are your favorite resale stores to shop and sell at and why?
"Apocalypse always, because of everything they are and stand for. I’ve found some of my favorite, most-reached-for pieces there. I love to sell my vintage pieces to become someone else's treasure. Common Threads too, for sure. I consign there a lot to be able to purchase designer pieces that I wouldn't otherwise treat myself to. It's been a really good blend between the two for me and my wardrobe! Also Arc thrift, flea markets and antique stores for my most special pieces."
Madison Moorhead McCabe
Personal Stylist, Founder & Creative Director of Apocalypse, Born and raised in Boulder
Tell me about your journey to finding your personal style?
"Well, it hasn't always been pretty! As a teenager, I dressed sexy in that Y2K, Paris Hilton kind of way. When I moved to SF to go to fashion school I did a complete 180 and went super masculine. I would wear 5-panel hats and sneakers to the club! It was a rebellious response to feeling objectified by the culture. Now I’ve found an aesthetic that's more authentic than either of those extremes. I love both feminine and masculine influence
and will lean in either direction depending on what I need to accomplish on a given day."
To learn more about Apocalypse, visit https://discoapocalypse.co/