We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lauren Flagg a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Lauren , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

The story behind my brands name ‘Obviously Vintage’ is quite simple really. In High school and entering into college years, I was obsessed with 80s and 90s street wear fashion. I could not afford the pieces I truly wanted to wear, so I began thrifting and revamping old clothes that I already had in my closet. When I moved to Atlanta my sole purpose was to become a Streetwear Fashion Designer. Once I started designing, all my pieces were thrifted and upcycled or custom designs that were inspired by 90s fashion. Once I was able to get everything in order to develop my business/brand, I was thinking of names that I wanted people to instantly recognize and remember. Seeing how more and more people were starting to thrift and create their own style with these vintage pieces, I would see the fit and think “oh that’s a vintage piece obviously” so then it clicked! I switched the words around and named my brand “Obviously Vintage”. I’ve also abbreviated it to be OV and it has stuck ever since. Now when people see my clothes they either say “OV” or Obviously Vintage. I play around with the words a lot when it comes to promoting as well. For example, if I just dropped a collection I’d put in the caption “I’m obsessed…obviously!”

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Lauren Flagg, I am the founder of the Streetwear brand Obviously Vintage. I am from a small town in North Carolina called Fuquay-Varina. I currently reside in Atlanta, GA. I moved to Atlanta in 2017 to pursue my career in Fashion Design. I went to the Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Marketing and Management.

Ever since high school I loved fashion and fashion illustration. I fell in love with the art of fashion because I was an artist first. I loved to draw portraits, landscapes, still-life paintings, and abstract art. In high school I thought I wanted to be an Art teacher but quickly realized I did not like school or kids haha. So I started thinking of other careers that would allow me to fulfill my love for art and fashion.

I came across the show Project Runway and instantly became obsessed! I saw how the designers created Art through their designs and I thought this is what I want to do! I then decided to go to the Art Institute, thinking I would have the whole fashion design student experience. I did not unfortunately. I began to just teach myself how to sew and I’ve already taught myself how to use illustrator to create CAD designs and rendered illustrations.

Once I graduated I worked in retail and did a few internships as a Fashion Illustrator and Apparel Tech Designer. Seeing how Fashion was not on the rise in North Carolina just yet, I needed to move to a city that would help me reach achieve my dreams. Of course you would think I’d pick NYC right off the back, BUT I am a country girl at heart from a small town so I definitely wasn’t ready for NYC. After doing a little research I decided to move to Atlanta. I really didn’t have a plan of action, I just wanted to get there, find a job and start saving money to start my own business. It was definitely a struggle at first. Before I move I quit my job way too early and I didn’t have any money saved. I just trusted my self and believed that if I wanted to make this happen it would happen. So I moved with only $100 in my pocket, found a cousin to stay with and worked until I had enough money to get my first apartment.

Living here has not been easy but I kept working hard, staying focused and determined to make my dreams become reality. After a full year of living here, I continued to work in retail and do freelance work on the side as a Fashion Illustrator.

In 2018, I launched my clothing brand Obviously Vintage. I was so excited and happy to finally have my own Streetwear brand and really start designing clothes that I wanted the world to see and wear!

Fast forward 5 years later I’ve had my brand featured in a boutique, selling out in less than 24 hours, I put on my very own Fashion Show during Covid! Now I have my brand featured on SHEIN.com for 2 years straight. I am so proud of how far I’ve come and to see where this career is taking me.

I want young creators and artists to know that as long as you believe in yourself and continue to be consistent, dedicated and passionate you will achieve whatever it is your heart desires. Never give up on yourself even if it feels like the world is against you.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

What I think helped me the most with building my reputation is being true to myself and my vision for OV. I was always know for dressing “different”, being goofy and having fun with my wardrobe. I wanted people to feel how I felt when I got dressed up for fun and how confident it made me feel. I made sure my brand represented that and never stirred away from it. When you see me you see OV and vice versa. OV is becoming more and more of a lifestyle brand and I love that.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

During this journey, there were many times that I could have giving up or gone another direction. When I actually tried to go another direction it did not feel right or fulfill me the way fashion did. I continue to push through negativity, anxiety, depression and rejection. I’ve found myself wanted to work in a corporate setting in this industry to see how that would be and it has taught me so much. I realized it only gets harder as you continue to move up in this industry, so just prepare yourself for it and think of failure as a learned lesson. I continue to push myself each day while also giving myself grace. I’m no good to myself or anyone else if I am burnt out, unmotivated and not in a creative head space. I am still learning to be kind to my mind and body while striving for greatness!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.behance.net/laurenflagg
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Obviouslyvintage/
• Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/lauren-flagg-221b771b4

Image Credits
SHEIN.com
Headshot – Photo by Fatherrdiff