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

Hi Katey, thanks for joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

I grew up in Portland, Oregon, and earned my degree in Apparel Design from Oregon State University. Just two days after graduating, I began my professional journey as a Global Merchandising intern at Nike’s World Headquarters. That internship evolved into a full-time position as a Print & Pattern Developer in early 2015, where I spent nearly seven years building my career in corporate America.

While I value the experience and the financial stability Nike provided, over time I began to feel creatively unfulfilled. When the world shut down in 2020 due to Covid, I used that unexpected period of isolation to reconnect with my creativity. I started hand-sewing masks and selling them online, which evolved into designing and sewing original garments, then styling looks around them. When stores reopened, I found myself drawn to thrifting and upcycling rather than returning to my corporate routine. Around that same time, I also began to question whether Oregon was my forever home. At almost 30 years old, I desired an opportunity to live in a new city, one with a deeper appreciation for fashion, beyond the outdoorsy and athletic aesthetic that defines much of the Pacific Northwest.

In the spring of 2021, a spontaneous trip to Dallas, Texas changed everything. I instantly felt connected to the city’s energy and felt it was where I wanted to start my next chapter. That fall, I made one of the biggest decisions of my life: I left my job at Nike to take a chance on myself and my creativity. By January 2022, I had signed a lease in downtown Dallas and officially made the move that March—without a traditional job lined up.

What I did have was a vision. I knew I didn’t want to return to the corporate world, so I decided to pursue the small online business I’d started during the pandemic: selling thrifted and upcycled pieces. I didn’t have a business name, a plan, or any formal training in entrepreneurship, but I had drive, talent, and a deep belief in myself. After a few months in Dallas, I began working part-time as a buyer at a luxury consignment shop, which opened my eyes to the potential of the luxury resale market. By the summer of 2022, my business finally had a name: She’s Thrifty Like That. My goal was to turn it into a full-time venture.

The first few years were anything but easy. I juggled multiple jobs, worked long hours, and faced the challenge of transitioning from corporate stability to full financial independence. Building your own business from the ground up means no one is there to guide you—you have to figure out every step yourself. But I kept going, refining my sourcing strategy, expanding my fashion knowledge, and developing a keen eye for high-demand and emerging brands. Slowly but surely, my efforts started to pay off. In 2024, I began offering consignment services in addition to sourcing my own inventory, which helped accelerate growth, and by early 2025, the business had reached a level of consistent success that allowed me to step away from my other jobs. Now, as 2025 comes to a close, I’m incredibly proud to say that She’s Thrifty Like That is my full-time business. It’s deeply rewarding to know that taking that leap of faith not only changed my career but also created something entirely my own, something that now surpasses what I once earned in the corporate world.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a creative entrepreneur and former designer who found her true calling in curated resale. I’ve always believed that fashion is the best form of self-expression — it tells people who you are without you even opening your mouth. That belief has shaped how I see clothing: not just as something to wear, but as storytelling, craftsmanship, and identity.

After nearly seven years working in product development at Nike, I realized I wanted to create something more personal and hands-on — something that reflected my own aesthetic and values. That idea eventually became She’s Thrifty Like That, a brand built around curating elevated, pre-loved fashion with an editorial eye.

She’s Thrifty Like That bridges luxury design and sustainability. I source, style, and resell contemporary and designer pieces that still have so much life left in them — often at a fraction of their original price. I also work with clients on consignment, helping them clean out their closets, resell quality pieces, and make space for new ones they’ll actually wear. My background in apparel design helps me evaluate construction, materials, and fit in a way that ensures every piece I list meets a high standard of both quality and style.

What sets my brand apart is the creative process behind it. Every item is styled, photographed, and presented with intention — not just to sell clothing, but to show how secondhand can still feel modern, aspirational, and fun. I’m really proud that She’s Thrifty Like That grew from a small pandemic side project into a full-time business built entirely on creativity, consistency, and a lot of faith in myself.

More than anything, I want people to know that shopping sustainably doesn’t mean giving up style. My goal is to make luxury resale feel exciting and accessible — to show that you can build a beautiful, sustainable wardrobe you love while doing something good for the planet and moving away from disposable, mass-produced fashion.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

When I first started this journey, I sourced pieces purely based on what I liked. I’ve always had an eye for fashion, but in the beginning, I was sourcing and selling items that I thought were cool — not necessarily what my audience actually wanted to buy. It took some trial and error (and a few overflowing clothing racks) to realize that having great taste isn’t the same as understanding the resale market.

I had to unlearn the idea that my personal style should drive my inventory. Once I started studying resale trends, researching, and analyzing what customers were actively searching for, everything changed. I shifted my sourcing strategy from “buy what I love” to “buy what sells,” while still curating pieces that align with my brand aesthetic. It’s a balance between creativity and strategy — and that shift completely transformed my business.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

I touched on this quite a bit in my “Taking a Risk” answer — that story really captures how She’s Thrifty Like That began as a small creative passion project during the pandemic and grew into my full-time business, after taking a big leap of faith and moving halfway across the country with a dream and a little drive.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shesthriftylikethat
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateyblaire/
• Other: email: [email protected]

  I don’t have my own website (yet) but you could mention that I sell on Poshmark, Depop, Ebay & Vestiaire Collective. My name on all those platforms is She’s Thrifty Like That