Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Zack.

Hi Emma, 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?
Before Berriez, I was working a 9-5 at a criminal justice non-profit, The Innocence Project. Apart from being a mental escape from my day job, I founded Berriez after noticing a gap in the vintage fashion world, especially on Instagram. I was so excited when I first discovered I could shop for vintage clothing directly from Instagram; that is, until I realized I was rarely able to find anything in my size. Occasionally, I’d find a shop selling something ‘oversized’ on its page (but shown on a thin model), and I’d buy it immediately. Even if I wasn’t particularly thrilled about the piece, I was just excited there was something in my size. I soon realized that sizes are arbitrary, clothing doesn’t look the same on me as it does on someone who’s a size 4, and I had amassed a huge pile of ill-fitting vintage clothing that I couldn’t return. I figured I wasn’t the only person who wanted to shop for vintage on Instagram but wasn’t able to find their size; so, I hung a few pieces from my pile of vintage on a rack, took photos of myself wearing them in my backyard, and posted them on Instagram. And here I am today.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Running a business has been a rollercoaster – emotionally, physically, financially, you name it! For starters, I’ve never run a business before — like I said earlier, I used to work in the legal field — so I’ve been learning everything along the way. And to make matters even more complicated – the pandemic happened only two years after I started Berriez.

The never-ending struggle will be financial insecurity. During the pandemic, sales were surprisingly steady; however, around March 2021, that all started to change. Now, we’re in a recession that no one wants to call a recession, and people are shopping less than ever. It feels like not only am I constantly needing to get new inventory to keep things “new” and “fresh”, I am working harder than ever just to get people to purchase things — which feels unimportant and icky given the state of the world.

It’s also been very difficult emotionally. It’s hard, in the age of social media, not to compare yourself to everything and everyone. I look at other businesses like mine and think, “How come they’re so much better than me? Why are they doing so much better than me?” Even though deep down I know social media is a facade. Plus, I love my peers and celebrate them!

Oh, and that brings me to my next struggle – social media! Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I get most of my customers from Instagram, so when the algorithm decides to shadow ban us for a week, it is reflected in our sales.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Berriez?

Founded by Emma Zack in 2018, Berriez is a size-inclusive brand featuring vintage clothing that’s lighthearted and fun, along with reworked vintage and exclusive items by emerging designers. Berriez’s clothing collaborations feature designs that are typically unavailable to plus-sized people. With a focus on women, queer, and POC makers, the brand is quickly building a community that feels more confident in what they wear.

Berriez is the only store in the entire WORLD doing what we’re doing. Not only do I curate vintage from across the globe, I also work with emerging designers on expanding their size range exclusively for Berriez. With our studio space, folks from all over the world come to shop our selection!

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love that NYC has connected me with so many talented creatives. It truly is a hub for creatives. Without NYC, I’m not actually sure I would’ve started Berriez – it has allowed me to tap into my creativity in ways I didn’t think were possible!

I don’t like how crowded it is!

Pricing:

• $0-200

Contact Info:

• Website: shopberriez.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/shopberriez

Image Credits
Image of studio: Gloria Kilborne Image of motorcycle: Bao Ngo Image of rocker models: Elena Mudd Image of two models standing in living room: Bao Ngo Image of model standing in front of red door: Perrin Rienhart