Blog: Crossroads Style

Every Friday, we share Black-owned fashion brands you should know on our Instagram feed.  If you didn’t catch them last month, here’s a recap of the 5 brands we featured.

1. The OULA Company

@theoulacompany has all our attention. Who wouldn’t want this gorgeous printed dress for dinner parties and nights out? What a stunner! The company uses textiles that are sourced responsibly and creates its handmade pieces in the U.S. See even more standout pieces on their website.

2. Nicole Shante

Label @nicoleshanteofficial features eye-catching designs that are “inspired by women who are strong-spirited and fearless.” This bold pantsuit is an example of what we absolutely love about the line.

3. SOLELY FIT

Premium activewear label, @solely.fit, creates dancer-like pieces that are proudly made in LA and manufactured with a commitment to ethical working practices. We can’t take our eyes off their line of bodysuits. See all the pieces on their website here.

4. Peju Obasa

We adore the eco-conscious crocheted mini belted bags of @pejuobasa. They can be worn many ways (we really like them across the chest), and this one in tangerine has us dreaming of a tropical winter escape. Shop their line on their website.

5. par Bronte Laurent

There is no better way to celebrate the New Year than with a beautiful piece of fashion, and Black-owned @parbrontelaurent delivers that beauty with this flawless piece. Founder Bronte Laurent aims for pieces so comfortable you never want to take them off, and we think she’s hitting the mark. Shop the line.

This post includes only a few of the Black-owned fashion brands you should know about; there are even more featured on our Instagram feed. You can also join us back here on our website next month when we’ll feature our January picks!

As part of our ongoing commitment, we share Black-owned fashion labels you can support every Friday on our Instagram feed.  If you missed them, we put together a recap of the 4 brands we featured in the month of November.

1. TOVE

We had to highlight the elegant pieces from @tovestudio. Their silk blouses, cashmere sweater dresses, and ruched dresses are simply gorgeous. See what we’re talking about when you visit their website here.

2. edas

We love it when a fashion label incorporates a signature feature into its design to make it instantly recognizable. Black-owned accessories label @__edas does just this with its fabulous oversized handbag buckle. So cool! Shop the site here.

3. Zou Xou

The spotlight is shining bright on @zouxoushoes. The label’s ethically-crafted shoe line is produced in Buenos Aires and features some of the most beautiful shoe silhouettes we’ve ever seen, like their glazed loafer seen here. See all the pieces on their website here.

4. AAKS

You need to know about @a.a.k.s and their colorful hand-crafted bags created in Ghana. In the past year alone, these bags have caught the eye of major fashion magazines, and their collections are starting to hit the shelves of major retailers. Keep an eye out for them and shop their line here.

This post includes only a few of the Black-owned fashion labels you should know about; there are even more featured on our Instagram feed. You can also join us back here on our website next month when we’ll feature our December picks!

There’s nothing like Instagram for scrolling through fashion and decor inspiration, and what we’re really drawn to are influencers who pull it off stunningly with thrifted finds. If you’re the same, we have a treat for you. Today, we’re sharing 5 Thrifting Instagram accounts to follow right now. Check them all out and see if any fit or inspire your personal style.

1. @aaricanichole

Aarica has fashion and home decor style for days. She creatively upcycles too, with a cool Etsy shop to show for it!

2. @acteevism

Megan McSherry weaves in photos of her stylish thrifted finds with educational tips about sustainable fashion and low-waste living.

3. @hannah_rupp

This stylist and self-proclaimed “outfit repeater” has an expert eye for thrifted fashion and shares her best finds on IG.

4. @cappuccinosandconsignment

If you love to mix luxury with pre-loved pieces, you have to follow along and see what Jessie pulls together.

5. @themetalromantic

Olivia spots those truly special vintage pieces and then makes them hip, modern, and new. Plus, she sprinkles in videos with her personal shopping tips.

These are only just 5 thrifting Instagram accounts to follow, but there are so many more! While you’re checking these out, follow us on Instagram to see the fabulous thrifted finds hitting the sales floors in our stores. We’re here to pair you with your next favorite thrifted piece.

If you didn’t know: every Friday on our Instagram feed, we share Black-owned fashion labels you should know.  If you’ve missed them, here’s a recap of the 4 brands we featured in October.

1. Silver & Riley

You’re going to love the luxe leather pieces from @silverandriley. The label focuses on creating high-quality, long-lasting fashion investment pieces that will last for years to come, like this structured belt bag in eye-catching fuschia. That’s a sustainable idea we can definitely get behind! Visit their website here.

2. Brother Vellies

@brothervellies is headed up by designer @aurorajames (yes, the one who made some pretty big headlines recently). Pieces are designed in Brooklyn, then handcrafted sustainably with artisans spanning from Nairobi to New York. These Greg Sandals with bamboo buckles are a perfect example of the exemplary result. Shop the site here.

3. C.ROSS MADE

If your jewelry aesthetic is bold, then you need to know about @c.ross_made. This Black-owned jewelry label features handcrafted polymer clay earrings that play BIG with geometric shapes. The earrings shown here are on our personal wish list. See all the pieces here.

4. PETIT KOURAJ

@petitkouraj was founded by stylist @nasrin.jb, and her pieces can be considered wearable art. The brand is based in Brooklyn but pieces are handmade in Haiti. Along with many, many fashion editors, we’re in love with these beautiful bags. Shop them here.

This post has included only a few of the Black-owned fashion labels you should know, but there are even more featured on our Instagram feed. You can also join us back here on our website next month when we’ll feature our November picks!

Wow, and just like that Crossroads Trading turns 30 years old. Happy birthday to us! It’s hard to believe that it’s been three decades since we first opened our doors on Fillmore St. in San Francisco. Back then in 1991, we could only hope that customers across the country would fall in love with secondhand fashion and selling their clothes to us for cash or store credit. Luckily, the customers arrived, and many can even claim they’ve been shopping with us from the very beginning.

Crossroads was founded by Jerry Block and Chip Gerken, after their wives introduced them to each other. Jerry’s experience in resale fashion and Chip’s experience in traditional retail fashion allowed them to create a secondhand fashion experience that married the value and sustainability perks of resale with the curated shopping racks of traditional retail. Customers soon counted on the company’s in-store buyers to stock the racks with an inspiring mix of contemporary, vintage, and designer brands. To this day, the in-store buyers at Crossroads stores (led by the company’s first employee and current Chief Retail Officer, Melissa Laubstein) remain the heart and soul of Crossroads stores.

You can now find Crossroads stores across the country, throughout California, the Pacific Northwest, Texas, Chicago, and New York. With over 100 “Best of” awards across these regions, we couldn’t be any prouder to have served our customers in their search for fun, affordable, fashionable, and sustainable finds.

Some Fun Milestones for Us Along the Way

1996- Opened our first Pacific Northwest store in Capitol Hill.

1999- Opened our first Southern California store in Hollywood.

2005- Made our debut in Chicago with our Lincoln Park store.

2007 -Ran our first (and only) TV commercial.

2011- Opened our first New York store in Brooklyn.

2012- Opened our sister store and designer consignment boutique, Fillmore & 5th.

2016- Entered the Texas market with our Houston store.

Here’s to 30 more years! Most of all, thank you for being a part of the Crossroads community. There would be no celebrations today without YOU.