Today we’d like to introduce you to Kerisa Denison
Hi Kerisa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Kerisa and the story of my small business, Keep Earth Vintage, started during covid when I was living in LA and everything had shut down. I initially sold upcycled vintage shirts that I had embroidered–but at that time it was just a way to pass time; I didn’t view it as a possible business. A year later, I had moved to Texas and started to take my little venture seriously, all while living in a 30 ft renovated RV. I started reselling vintage and thrifted clothes on Etsy and my shop was becoming more and more popular which kind of took me by surprise because I was just doing what I loved.
I grew up in BC, Canada and spent a lot of time in nature, being creative and playing dress up with thrifted clothes my mum would bring home. I have always been inspired by fashion & styling and view clothing as a way to express oneself and try on different personalities and characters. I studied fashion at University of the Arts -London College of Fashion and to me, clothing= wearable art. Unfortunately the fashion industry is the second biggest polluter after oil & gas but I believe that is changing.
By shopping vintage and secondhand, we are saving unwanted clothes from overfilled landfills, while also wearing unique, one-of-a-kind items. I love to show different ways to style each piece–my motto is “REDUCE, REWEAR, RELOVE”–and believe that small imperfections are what makes something special and unique. I hope my vintage finds inspire my customers to express themselves, make them feel beautiful & confident and remind them to shop consciously.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s definitely not a smooth, linear path. My first challenge was space. Starting my business in an RV, I quickly started running out of physical space to store my inventory and was finding it difficult to take listing photos and make content in such a small space. BUT it also showed me, where there’s a will, there’s a way and I didn’t let those hinderances stop me.
I will also say I have seen inflation affect my sales this past year but I am hopeful that more people are starting to become aware of the impact of fashion (specifically fast fashion) and are wanting to shop small and sustainably.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Keep Earth Vintage?
I source, style and sell vintage & secondhand clothes (and sometimes housewares).
Sustainability has always been a part of my life as I grew up on an organic salad farm with a farmer/musician father and an entrepreneur mother who also loves to thrift. It took me a while to realize that thrifting is actually a skill that takes time to develop and I was lucky to have grown up with a mom who taught me how to thrift–even if at the time, I felt embarrassed to wear secondhand clothes. Life has a funny way of working out that way, doesn’t it?
When I look back at my life, I can connect the dots to see how I got here. From my childhood, to studying fashion in London, to commercial modeling & acting in LA. They were all stepping stones to get me to exactly where I am today. I would say all of those life experiences are what sets me apart from others.
I’m proud of the fact that I have done it all on my own. So if I can do it, so can you. I don’t have a partner (romantic or business) or investors…it’s just me, determination and a very supportive family and loyal customers.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I am a big podcast girl. I usually listen to one of my favorite podcasts while working.
My faves are Expanded by To Be Magnetic, Modern Wisdom, Diary of a CEO, Human Design with Jenna Zoe and Almost 30.
I also do To Be Magnetic work which is a method that helps reprogram your subconscious beliefs through neural plasticity, self hypnosis and inner child work. I think everyone should so some kind of inner child work as that’s where most of our blocks, wounds and programming come from.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://keepearthvintage.etsy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keepearthvintage
