Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cassie OToole. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Cassie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Cassie’s Shop is a sustainable, one of one, brand that focuses on reworking thrifted and vintage clothing into works of art as well as practicing zero waste techniques and using all the textile scraps and waste. As I learned more about textile waste and the damage of fast fashion, it was my mission to create a sustainable brand that continues to be accessible and size inclusive. I also want to show that shopping and styling secondhand clothing is way more fun than shopping fast fashion!!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I went to school for fashion design in Philadelphia where I learned to sew and design. I then took ideas and designs from my senior collection and started adding those to thrifted pieces like t-shirts and denim jackets, It instantly became works of arts on everyday wear. My customers get to shop one of kind, sustainable pieces at an accessible price! The feedback I normally get is that it’s “a compliment brand” meaning you are bound to get compliments when you’re wearing Cassie’s Shop. I thrift all my materials which means every piece is completely made from thrifted pieces like button down shirts, denim, t-shirts, curtains, bedsheets, and tablecloths!
I show my process and styling on my instagram: @cassies_shop and my tiktok @cassiesshop!

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

There are 2 ways I’ve been growing my customer base is 1, word of mouth- when someone is wearing a Cassie’s Shop piece in public, there usually is a conversation on “where did you get that?” and they will come to my social media pages and become a customer. And second, I have been doing pop ups and markets around Philadelphia and Charleston where customers can shop my brand in person!

We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.

I sell primarily on instagram stories and etsy! At the moment, I am working on website where it can be a place for shopping and exploring the brand. Cassie’s Shop pieces are far better in person, so sometimes it’s hard to capture all the detail and work that goes into the pieces, but social media platforms like Tik Tok help me show all that work behind the pieces which helps with sales! People have purchased pieces from Germany, the UK, Alaska, Hawaii, and Italy!

Contact Info:

• Website: cassiesshop.com
• Instagram: cassies_shop
• Other: etsy: www.cassiesshopp.etsy.com Tik Tok: cassiesshop

Image Credits
Lizzy Rollins Photography Caroline Herring Photography Rian Fuller Photography