Laure Mitchell carefully curates a selection of trend-inspired vintage pieces for her Etsy shop OneOff.

SDTC: How did you get started picking vintage?

Laure Mitchell: I’ve always loved clothes. I spent countless hours as a child feasting on my mother’s gems from the ’60s and ’70s, so it was an early onset of vintage-fever for me. Once I ditched my high-school uniform and discovered the Spadina streetcar the line between pretend and real life dressing-up became ever so blurred. My vintage collection grew extensively from there and soon I was spending every chance I had thrifting or thinking about thrifting.

I decided to pick with the intention of selling last spring, mostly out of a desire to spread the vintage love, but also out of a real frustration with low-quality and over-priced high street fashion. I wanted to provide women with an ethical and affordable alternative, without all the sifting and dry-cleaning (that’s my job). Ultimately, my goal with One-Off is to innovate the vintage experience by presenting my collection in a cohesive way, in the vein of high-street retailers. My lot in life is to convert skeptics into thrift junkies.

SDTC: What’s your favourite piece you’ve ever found?

LM: My favourite piece actually found me. A few weeks after having had a conversation with a family friend about my business idea, I received a vintage 1980’s Marina Sitbon for Kamosho Paris silk jacket in the mail. It’s covered in cats and polka dots, and features Puss ‘n Boots on the back. It is the perfect combination of ridiculous, chic and adorable. AND it’s my size!

SDTC: What advice would you give to young aspiring business owners?

LM: Start small. In the beginning there will be a lot of ideas bouncing around your head and indulging in all of them can be costly. A simple game plan is key. Also, budget.

SDTC: What’s the best reaction/story/experience you’ve ever heard in relation to your pieces?

LM: I was photographed wearing a great vintage find of mine – a very sweet 1960s mint green full-skirted dress, with long, sheer sleeves. My aunt later told me that she wore the exact same dress to a New Year’s eve party in 1965 when she was 17. I was very proud. It is one of my most special pieces; think Liesel von Trapp singing in the glass gazebo.

SDTC: Why should people come to the Flea?

LM: The Gladstone Flea is a very unique and modern shopping experience. The August edition will be my third time around and it is by far my favourite flea yet, both as a vendor and a shopper. I am always taken aback by the boundless ingenuity of the participating artists and collectors. Guest jurors have carefully selected each vendor so it makes for an interesting grouping of creative talent. No two events are ever the same. If you want to keep it local and look crazy cool at the same time, then you will have a field-day at The Gladstone Flea.

Find OneOff at the Gladstone Flea on Saturday, August 3rd from 10 am ’til 4 pm at 1214 Queen St. W. Shop OneOff on Etsy.