By Yoko Zhu
Boston University News Service
The hum of the sewing machine reverberated through the store. Sadie MacIver was making a custom pair of pants. Across from MacIver was Basil, a friendly German Shepherd, unafraid to greet strangers. When a customer approached the front counter, MacIver complimented the article of clothing they’d chosen to buy.
As the store’s owner and sole employee, MacIver opened the brick-and-mortar in March, adding to Allston’s growing vintage scene. The recent explosion of slow fashion and secondhand clothing has sprouted businesses specialized in curated vintage. Groovy Thrifty, a consignment shop off Packard’s Corner, is MacIver’s side hustle turned full-time job.
When MacIver was a high school senior, she encountered a dilemma: she had too many clothes. So, she began selling her items online, which evolved into upcycling. MacIver purchased a $20 sewing machine and began experimenting with design.
In college, she studied Animal Sciences at the University of New Hampshire, and on this trajectory, worked at a local animal clinic. Nearly two years ago, MacIver moved to Boston and began working at a larger-scale animal hospital. At first, she assumed the transition would be easy, but she later found herself unhappy and underappreciated for her work.
She was aware of the intensity of her job and its emotional baggage – there were many incidents where MacIver had to, unfortunately, deliver bad news to pet owners. While working as a vet tech, MacIver continued her side hustle of selling clothes.
She began to save “hardcore for a year” to bring her business idea to fruition, Maciver said. There were physical expenses – cash registers, displays, hangers – that came with opening a brick-and-mortar for her clothing business.
Now, she works only one day a week as a vet tech.
“I honestly wanted to take a risk,” MacIver said. “It was a dream of mine.”
When MacIver began taking steps to accomplish her vision, she realized how little she knew. Realtors didn’t work for her – they worked for the property owners. In this case, finding one who would talk to her was hard.
MacIver, with her bright, enthusiastic demeanor, was aware of how she came off: a kid. Even still, she toured spots around Boston. When she visited the garden level of 64 Brighton Avenue, she signed the lease. The space, which she’d once deemed small, now appeared massive. So, MacIver sought more inventory to fill her store.
Groovy Thrifty’s interior is filled with secondhand clothing, houseware, and trinkets. There’s a $5 shopping cart filled with clothes and accessories. Jewelry and vintage pins (one of them proclaiming “It’s not easy being a Smurfette”) are arranged on a tray. Displayed on a cherry-red table, is an old Life magazine and card decks for sale.
The clothes are priced higher than your typical Goodwill, ranging from $25 to $60. MacIver attributes the higher prices to the utility and rent. “I travel around New England, and spend a lot of time, gas and days to source these things because I do want them to be curated,” MacIver said. “With that comes a lot of work, but I would say my goal is keeping [the prices] at a middle ground.”
When shopper Aman Shahzad stopped by, they were welcomed by a really huge dog.
“I thought the atmosphere was cute,” Shahzad said. “It had pretty decent clothing, I would say. I didn’t purchase anything, but the prices were fairly decent.”
Boston’s vintage scene is ever-present, taking form in events like Fenway Flea or Found Market. Vendors flock to a location and sell their secondhand clothes under tents, while customers would peruse through racks. Often, there is a DJ spinning house music or radio hits at these markets. When discussing the vintage scene in Boston, MacIver observed that “there was a level of competition but community.”
“At first, I was intimidated. I was like ‘is this imposter syndrome?’ Then, I realized we have different niches,” MacIver said. “There are people that just have ‘70s, ‘80s, and older pieces, nothing newer. A level of diversity helps with competition too. I like to have a mix, and I think that sets me apart as well.”
MacIver said she had a “million plans for Groovy Thrifty,” such as hosting community events. In the philosophy of a third space, MacIver welcomed the idea of shoppers browsing through the clothes, taking a seat to craft friendship bracelets, and listening to an artist playing guitar.
Groovy Thrifty has been the site of Panhellenic events, intimate acoustic shows, DJ sets and even a fashion shoot. When someone couldn’t find a space for a Galentines in their apartment, they hosted their event at MacIver’s shop.
“This is stressful, but it’s the best kind of stress,” MacIver said. “I’m getting 100% of what I put into it.”
