Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley M Beaufille Cook.
Hi Ashley M, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
As far as my involvement with vintage clothing and costumes, I was interested in fashion at a very young age. My mom had to fight with me about the impracticalities of my attire as young as 4 years old. I was in a theatre family, so I grew up doing theatre and dance. I was around a lot of period costumes and vintage clothing. My childhood and teen years were spent thrifting. My mom taught me to sew pretty young and spent hours upon hours designing and sewing clothes for dolls.
Eventually, this turned into me making my own clothes out of reworked thrifted and vintage items. I loved mixing vintage and costume pieces with boy’s skater style clothes. I moved out when I was 16 to attend Cincinnati School for Creative and Performing Arts. I graduated in 2006 and went on to study theatre and costuming at Northern Kentucky University, class of 2010. At NKU costuming professor noticed my sewing talents during a technical theatre class. I ended up with a BA in theatre and a minor in entrepreneurship. I worked full-time at Sunglass Hut to support myself during school.
After college, I decided not to follow my initial plans of moving to New York to be a professional starving artist. I stayed in Cincinnati because I got a job at a vintage clothing store, and I was interested to see what would happen. I literally walked in with my resume and told them they should hire me. About two years later, my co-worker (and also boyfriend at the time) and I ended up buying the store from the owners, in 2012 or 2013. So at age 24, I ended up as co-owner of a very large vintage shop that was established in 1985. I feel like I just followed my intuition on the route I should head in. I thought I was going to end up as an actor on stage, but my talents and opportunities of costuming have brought me to this career I feel I’m actually perfect for.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There is gender discrimination in my line of work, as well as age discrimination. People feel like there is no way “someone so young” can be into “old things.” And people still say misogynistic things to my face along the lines of “where is the guy who owns the place?” Getting financial backing is difficult. Even though I’m non-binary. I am viewed as a woman and therefore, instantly seen with limitations based on that. I was told by banks that a “single woman in her early 20s will likely get denied for a business loan.” I’ve dealt with people who think my situation was handed to me by family or was just given to me by someone.
They don’t realize I put myself through college and still have student loan debt. That I took out a loan from someone to be able to afford my business start-up. That I paid myself less than what I was paying our employees until we could afford to pay me more. They don’t know what if feels like having to choose whether to close or move your business, or buy a quarter of a million-dollar building that needs a 50K roof put on is a major life decision. The amount of physical labor and long hours that come with owning a vintage store is exhausting. The hunt for products to fill the store. It’s a lot of work. Doing a lot of this while being estranged from a lot of close family members, trying to overcome an eating disorder and getting sober… that’s a lot of hard work, too.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We specialize in vintage clothing and accessories for all ages and genders. We try to stock as many sizes as we can, as many time periods as we can. We try to have a variety of price points and a range of different styles. A lot of vintage stores have narrowed their focus on a certain time period or style of clothing. We do it all! We’re proud to say we’ve been around since 1985 and that we sell and rent clothes to major productions of film, television, and theatre.
Any big plans?
It’s hard to say what future plans are right now. I guess I’m just excited to know what the future holds so I can plan for it accordingly! Because of the pandemic, we are scared to make any big changes. Business is hectic lately and we have the largest staff we’ve ever had. Just making changes as they come and trying to make intuitive changes. I’m excited to finally have health insurance! That was a future plan from our past that we were just able to make a reality.
Contact Info:
- Email: casablancavintageclothing@gmail.com
- Website: www.casablancavintage.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casablancavintage/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/casablancavintage
Image Credits
Catie Viox
