We were lucky to catch up with Annie Reed recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Annie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
At a very young age, maybe around 3 or 4 years old, I would go to the pantry and bring out all the canned goods, line them up on the floor, take my little toy cash register, and sell them to my mother, carefully describing each item. I wanted to work at a department store so badly, I lied about my age (I was only 16 at the time). In those days, no one cared. Won numerous sales awards and then wanted to go to college. Fast forward. I’ve always had an affection and an affinity towards antiques and vintage, and for around 10 years, I have amassed a very large collection of Max Factor items. Last July, my collection was the cover story in The Collector Magazine, with my photo on the cover! Around 15 years ago, as I was shopping in my favorite vintage mall, I saw an empty booth and had the grand idea that I wanted to become a dealer, mostly to sell what was in storage. That turned into a fabulous “side gig” and in 2023, I opened another space in Pasadena at another antique mall.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Collecting antiques and vintage goods has always been one of my passions. For me, I imagine who owned it, how they acquired it, and what it meant to them. For example, vintage jewelry. When I wear someone else’s jewelry, I try to imagine where they wore it, what happened at the party they were at, who they met, and what it meant to them. Same with vintage clothes. I think of vintage as traveling back in time. Like an antique mirror – who has looked in that mirror?
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
To treasure other people’s treasures. We live in a disposable society. If it breaks, don’t fix it; throw it away. Living a vintage lifestyle is the goal, and I try to live my life in this way. For example, I live in a mid-century modern house, with mid-century modern furnishings and decor. Clothing, jewelry, all vintage. The mission of curating my vintage stores is to tell someone else’s story, to send the message that we are all connected to each other in so many ways. Collecting antiques and vintage serves that greater goal. Is it nostalgia? It is. Is it trying to conserve green energy? It is that as well. It is passing along our history to generations, one vintage earring at a time.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect for me is to see the same passion, the same bright light, when a customer sees an antique or vintage item of mine that they want to buy because they have fallen in love with it. It’s also learning about the antiques and vintage items I am selling, so I can pass the knowledge to my customers.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: anniesvintagestore
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/armandoviteri/
