Life & Work with Paige Soller of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Paige Soller.

Hi Paige, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?

I’ve always been a creative person at heart. When I was a kid, I could spend hours in my room drawing, painting, writing, or trying to learn different instruments. Those were the moments where I felt the most like myself.

As I got older, though, I gradually started shrinking and hiding those parts of myself. I focused more on trying to fit into paths that made more sense to other people, but deep down they never truly felt like the right fit for me and just left me feeling unfulfilled.

I realized I was just doing what everyone else wanted me to do and being what they wanted me to be.

After trying several different paths, I realized I was happiest when I was creating rather than simply going through the motions of a traditional 9-to-5. I graduated from cosmetology school in 2022 because hairdressing felt like it could possibly be the right path for me, but I was met with the same resistance as before. While I loved the artistic side of it, I eventually realized I wanted to create something that encouraged people to embrace who they already were rather than constantly chasing trends or feeling like they needed to change things about themselves and that’s all I felt like I was helping them do. That realization pushed me to keep searching for work that felt more meaningful.

After that, I took a warehouse job while saving for my first apartment. During that time, I found myself dressing in ways at work that didn’t feel authentic just to try and blend in and get through each day because I didn’t feel safe in that environment. Over time, I realized that disconnecting from my own identity was affecting both my happiness and my creativity. Looking back though, I think that experience made me appreciate personal style and self-expression in a completely different way.

Eventually, I enrolled in school full time and attempted towards yet another traditional career path. One night, while taking a study break before an exam, I stumbled across a few resellers on TikTok. I looked over at the pile of thrifted clothes I had bought for my old job…… I knew I was never going to wear again, and I had an idea.

I listed a few of those pieces on my personal Depop account just to see what would happen. To my surprise, things started selling quickly and it became a fun side hustle. I saved up for a mannequin, opened a separate business account, and slowly began building what would eventually become Elle’s Archive.

Instead of just reselling random items like I did in the beginning, I began curating and creating looks that reflected my own personal style/aesthetic.

As the shop grew, I wanted to reach more people, so I started creating content on social media to share my finds and the inspiration behind my brand. It has been incredible watching my pieces find the people they were truly meant for and connecting with other creators that share similar interests.

I’ve been an avid thrifter my whole life and one of my favorite things about thrifting has always been that magical feeling of finding something that feels like it was just waiting there for you. Unlike fast fashion or constantly changing trends, secondhand shopping encourages people to discover what genuinely speaks to them. I wanted to create a shop that helps other people experience that same feeling.

Sustainability has always been just as important to me as aesthetics. Every order is packaged using paper or cardboard because I wanted the shopping experience to be just as thoughtful and environmentally conscious as the clothing itself. I’m a huge animal lover, and just as it breaks my heart to see beautiful clothing end up in landfills, I feel the same way about unnecessary plastic waste that is also harmful to them and the environment. Every package is carefully wrapped in kraft paper, and I even double-wrap orders when needed to help protect them during shipping while keeping everything eco-friendly.

I’m still in the early stages of building. I’m still learning, growing, and making mistakes along the way, but this journey has meant so much to me and given me something I never even expected. It has helped me reconnect with my creativity, my inner child, my confidence, and the parts of myself I spent years trying to hide just to feel safe and accepted.

My hope is that Elle’s Archive becomes more than just a place to shop. I want it to inspire people to embrace their own personal style, reconnect with the parts of themselves that make them unique, and make more sustainable choices along the way. If someone can open one of my packages and feel a little more like themselves, then I know I’m creating exactly what I set out to create <3

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?
Oddly.. yes. While I ran into many challenges and setbacks in my old career paths, this seems to be the one thing that just flows naturally to me. It doesn’t feel like work, even though I do spend a lot of hours sourcing, washing, cleaning, staging, taking photos, writing listings, and creating content.

It just feels like fun.

I do run into technical difficulties though sometimes. I’m still learning how to edit videos and how the algorithms work for different social media platforms… but for the most part I have just been creating and posting with the intention that everything finds who it’s meant to find at the right time and so far, that has performed better than any online tik tok guru’s strategy I have tried to apply.

I’ve also found that trying to stick to a strict schedule creates too much pressure for myself and blocks my creativity, so I just work as soon as an idea comes to me and that has actually helped me remain more consistent.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an artist, content creator, and small business owner.

I own an online boutique called Elle’s Archive and sell secondhand vintage & contemporary clothing on Depop & Vinted.

What I’m most proud of is creating a brand that reflects my own values. It has become a place where creativity, sustainability, and authenticity all come together. More than anything, I hope people leave my shop feeling inspired to express themselves confidently while making choices that are kinder to the planet.

I think what sets my work apart is the heart behind it. Every item is hand-selected, every package is prepared with care, and every piece is chosen with the hope that it finds the person it was always meant for.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Ironically, I don’t spend a lot of time reading business books or listening to entrepreneur podcasts. Most of my inspiration has come from simply creating, learning through experience, and watching other resellers share their journeys online. Seeing other people build businesses from the ground up gave me the confidence to believe I could do it too.

Beyond that, my faith and spirituality have been my greatest sources of encouragement. They remind me to trust the process, stay true to who I am, and believe that the right opportunities and the right people will find me at the right time. That mindset has shaped not only how I approach my business, but how I approach life as a whole.

More than anything, I try to stay curious, keep creating, and let inspiration come naturally rather than forcing it. Some of my best ideas have come from quiet moments, walks through thrift stores, or simply paying attention to the small details and beauty in everyday life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.depop.com/elles_archive/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_elles_archive
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@_elles_archive