Based in: Just outside of Chicago, IL

Store location: 23 S. Spring St, Elgin, IL

Price range: $25 - $250

Hi Able Shoppe, all the way from Chicago, welcome to A Sustainable Closet, can you tell our readers more about your shop?

Able Shoppe is a curated vintage clothing and homewares concept shop located right outside of Chicago. I gather a lot of inspiration from art, travel, and interior design. We have a brick and mortar in Elgin and also operate online and at pop-ups and markets in the city.

Why did you start it?

I’ve always had a love for finding beautiful vintage pieces. I started a shop as a way to make some extra money while I was interning at a fair-trade boutique in college. It grew from there and I’ve been loving the experience and how the business has evolved ever since!

How do you select the items you sell, and where do you find them?

I look for pieces that are highly wearable, drawing inspiration from what’s happening in modern fashion, art, and interior design movements. I only curate items that I would want for myself as well, which makes it hard to decide what to keep and what to sell! I find pieces anywhere and everywhere, my favorite being traveling and bringing pieces home from other parts of the country as well as abroad. Earlier this year I had the opportunity to do a sourcing trip to Paris which was amazing!

Who is your typical customer and what are they looking for?

My typical customers value sustainable fashion, collected interiors, and timeless design. They are a thoughtful buyer and active in the vintage community. I do my best to offer an array of items that will intrigue most anyone, whether from a place of nostalgia or from the love of a piece in a modern context.

Give us your best interior design advice, how can one welcome vintage into their homes?

Collect items that you love, slowly over time. Look at quality, form, and function. Stick to neutrals when it comes to large, expensive pieces like sofas and dining tables. But try swapping out colors and patterns when it comes to smaller items such as pillows, rugs, artwork, curtains, and throws. I’ve been loving large pieces such as oversized vases, funky statement chairs, and unique artwork to create a sense of individuality and grandeur.

How does one know what is truly vintage, do you have any advice both when it comes to interior design and clothes?

A big tell is referencing the tag and where the item is made and out of what material. For furniture, if you’re able to look up the maker it can tell a lot about the history of the piece. Vintage clothing is often made of 100% silk, cotton, or wool versus polyester blends or synthetic fabric. Vintage tags that are hand-stitched and not printed onto the item are another tell.

You are a modern concept store too, what else do you offer your customers?

In addition to our rotating vintage collection, we also offer modern brands that style well with vintage such as Le Bon Shoppe and Hansel from Basel socks, Baggu bags and accessories, and Apartamento magazine which is one of my favorite sources of inspiration for the shop.

Any favourite item that has passed by your store?

I’m a sucker for a good designer winter coat. I recently sold two plaid vintage Gucci and Yves St Laurent coats which both went to good homes; I still find myself reminiscing about both of them when I’m going through my own closet.

Last, what do you think is needed to make both the fashion industry but also the interior design industry more sustainable?

I think the biggest thing is customer awareness. If enough people start to realize the negative impact of fast-fashion and start searching for something more sustainable, companies will have to follow suit. I think we are already starting to see this happen which is exciting!

INTERVIEW #55 ABLE SHOPPE

INTERVIEW #56 JACKIE LOPPIS

INTERVIEW #54 REMIRA MARKET