We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Darbe Canady. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Darbe below.

Darbe, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

For years, I ran my own designer custom clothing line under my label, Malibu Darbe. While I loved creating, I started noticing a major gap in the market here in San Diego—especially for women looking for a chic and elevated shopping experience. Most local vintage shops leaned toward costumey clothing, while bigger retailers like Zara left stylish young women with similar wardrobes, wearing the same trends as everyone else. Having spent so much time in places like Los Angeles and New York, where vintage shopping is a natural part of the culture, I realized San Diego was missing something: a space where women could invest in their wardrobes through curated, timeless secondhand pieces.

Personally, thrifting and shopping vintage has been second nature to me for years—80% of my own wardrobe is secondhand. I love the thrill of finding beautiful, high-quality gems made to last, and I’m constantly stopped by women asking where I found a particular vintage bag or tailored jacket. I’d been dreaming about pivoting for years, and in February, I finally took the leap. I sourced a collection of unique, designer, and mid-tier vintage pieces from all over the world and launched my first pop-up event in the spring. The response was overwhelming—women showed up excited, invested in their personal style, and eager for this experience. At that moment, I knew I was solving a real problem and offering something San Diego women had been craving.

One of my biggest goals was to show people that vintage can be incredibly chic, stylish, and modern while also being better for your wallet. Clothing made in the past was designed to last, making it a true investment compared to today’s fast fashion. Vintage offers the perfect combination of sustainability and elevated, timeless style—it allows you to curate a wardrobe that feels intentional and unique, while also making choices that are kinder to the planet.

I also wanted to bring a stronger sense of community into my business, something that felt bigger than just shopping. With vintage clothing, you’re able to participate in markets and local events that truly bring people together. What I’ve found is that when you curate a very specific style—one that reflects your personal taste—it naturally attracts like-minded people with similar interests. My style and vision are present in every piece I hand-select for the shop, and because of that, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to connect with so many amazing women and build friendships through this business. It’s been such a fulfilling way to bring people together and create something special for the San Diego community.

Sunset Club Vintage is about more than clothes—it’s about style, sustainability, connection, and confidence. It’s a space where women with busy social lives can shop timeless pieces, whether they’re dressing for brunch, date night, or sunset drinks, all while feeling a sense of belonging and inspiration.

Darbe, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started my career as a designer, where I gained a deep understanding of the clothing industry, particularly its issues around sustainability and waste production. I wanted to be part of the solution by creating better-quality clothing that would last, but over time, I realized that wasn’t enough—there are already so many amazing garments in circulation, just waiting to be rediscovered. That realization, combined with my love for styling and curation, led me to pivot my business and create Sunset Club Vintage, a modern take on vintage shopping.

With a clear plan (and the help of tools like ChatGPT), I carefully curated a starting collection of clothing and accessories that felt chic, timeless, and versatile—exactly what I wanted to see more of in San Diego. When women come into my shop, they often look for more than just a single piece—they want guidance on how to style it, how to make it work for their lives, and how to wear it multiple ways. I love that because it takes vintage shopping beyond just finding a beautiful piece and makes it about building a wardrobe that’s both intentional and versatile. I help women look at fashion as a form of expression while also helping them get the most out of their investments.

What sets Sunset Club Vintage apart is that every single piece in the shop is handpicked by me. I’m incredibly intentional about what gets shown—everything is chosen for its quality, style, and timeless appeal. This dedication means I spend time every year traveling all over the world to source the very best vintage, bringing pieces with incredible craftsmanship and unique stories back to San Diego. This year alone, my sourcing journey took me to Peru, Japan, London, Paris, Spain, and Copenhagen.

I’m most proud of creating an intimate space where women can rediscover the fun of getting dressed—where vintage feels modern, stylish, and elevated. Sunset Club Vintage isn’t just a shop; it’s an experience that challenges how we think about shopping sustainably while celebrating style, creativity, and individuality.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

When I decided to pivot my business into vintage, I started by reinvesting a small portion of sales from my previous label into a carefully curated collection. I was very intentional with this first drop, planning every detail and sourcing pieces that shared a cohesive theme, aligned with the season, and spoke directly to my audience. Each piece I selected had to meet two key criteria: it needed to be something people would want to buy, and I needed to be able to sell it at a profit.

I calculated the potential revenue for each item before purchasing to ensure the investment made sense. That initial collection gave me the momentum to keep going, and I’ve continued to use this method ever since. I reinvest profits into sourcing new collections, always researching trends and understanding what my customers are looking for. It’s a thoughtful and strategic process that has allowed me to grow sustainably while staying true to the vision of Sunset Club Vintage.

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

I use Shopify as my core tool because it’s an all-in-one platform that perfectly supports the needs of my business. Shopify allows me to not only run my online store seamlessly but also manage appointment bookings for in-studio shopping at Sunset Club Vintage. This dual functionality is essential for me because my business thrives on both curated in-person experiences and online sales.

One of the biggest advantages of Shopify is its automation. For example, it calculates sales taxes for each order, which is a huge time-saver as someone who works independently. The platform also makes inventory management, payment processing, and website customization incredibly user-friendly, even for someone without a technical background.

While Shopify does require a monthly fee, the ability to streamline so many aspects of my business—like booking appointments, showcasing new drops, and managing eCommerce—far outweighs the cost. Having everything in one place allows me to focus on curating, sourcing, and delivering a great experience to my customers without juggling multiple tools.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sunsetclubvintage.com
• Instagram: @malibudarbe @sunsetclubvintage
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darbecanady

Image Credits

@natalieborton_
@lateaugust.studio