Salvage Studio SF Turns 4!?!

I truly cannot believe this business of mine is turning 4. In one way it only feels like I’m just beginning—finally committing to working the business full time in March of this year, getting an office space, becoming an LLC—but looking back at the humble start, it has been a tremendous, winding journey! I somehow created the dream job I never knew existed, and it feels so completely “me”.

My immediate gateway to repair was through content creation, which I’ll get to, but that’s not where it started. 

I grew up in a thrifty household. Clothes and furniture were thrifted, ziplock bags were re-used, junk mail was used as coloring sheets…so, circularity practices are my second nature. I learned to sew at a young age and spent my childhood upcycling skirts from old t-shirts and cutting up old dance costumes to make new dress up clothes, and dreaming of becoming a fashion designer or the next Editor in Chief of Vogue. 

So it made total sense that I went to college for Engineering, right (read my KU alumni feature here)?  I ended up choosing a path that, while practical, didn’t turn out to be fulfilling. To fill this creative void, I started creating content on Instagram around thrifting, styling, caring for my garments, and mending. And as the data came in through views, comments, engagement, mending emerged as a niche I was filling and thriving in. 

The business started as me trying to solicit repairs from friends or neighbors on Nextdoor so I could create more repair content and tutorials. My goal was for content creation to become my job. But, in reality, building a business around content traditionally requires promoting consumption by either promoting brand’s products or creating products, and that was opposite of my messaging and personal ethos.

At this time, I had already left a stable career and paycheck, so I needed to make money. I ramped up repair services, and started repairing from my bedroom. If someone needed something repaired, I’d accept it no matter if I knew how to fix it or not. I learned on the spot and from my early customer’s pieces.

Today, we’re 4 years in and no longer working beside my bed (thank goodness for work/life separation!!). I have personally repaired thousands of garments, maybe even one of your own, from melted puff jackets, heirloom quilts, antique denim, and favorite sweatshirts. I feel honored to have somehow stumbled into a career that aligns wholly with my values. Thank you for trusting me to repair your clothes.

I’m a team of one doing everything since the beginning—marketing, sewing, accounting, event planning, biz dev, you name it—and I do feel my energy to persevere ebb and flow. I’m getting better at finding that reasonable work/life balance, but continue to struggle to operate a small business in such an expensive city. I hope to see Salvage Studio thrive in this coming 5th year and will continue to adapt. I’m looking forward to hosting more workshops on different mending topics and launching virtual courses.

Last year I threw a party to celebrate 3 years, but this year, I’m celebrating by taking a REAL trip—the kind where I delete email from my phone and am wholly in the moment.

If you feel moved to help me celebrate this 4 year milestone by treating me to a glass of bubbly, piece of cake or a coffee, I’ll leave my personal Venmo here :)

Thanks for being a part of the Salvage Studio community. Please reach out to hi@salvagestudiosf.com if you have any questions.

Looking forward to restoring your pieces!