Flow State Vintage has already made its mark on Oxford’s small-scale fashion scene in just a month since it opened.
The store, co-owned by Miami sophomore Caleb Chorley and Ohio State University graduate Ethan Stewart, is the city’s first dedicated vintage clothing shop. The two opened the shop on High Street, across from Kofenya Coffee in a space previously occupied by Future Great Comics.
Chorley and his business partner built the foundation for their shop for some time now. Last year, Chorley did 25 pop-ups for Miami sororities and fraternities and some City of Oxford events, including last April’s solar eclipse.
“I would travel to different universities in different cities and do pop-ups there too,” Chorley said. “And then the response I got from students last year was really good.”
This success pushed the two to take the leap and open a storefront in Oxford.
Flow State Vintage officially opened its doors Aug. 31, and despite the typical first-weekend rush, the shop has seen steady foot traffic since then. Chorley estimated that around 30% of Miami’s student body already knows about the shop, but he’s aiming to increase that to 70%.
Managing the shop is a full-time commitment for both Chorley and Stewart. And for Chorley, balancing the store with his academic responsibilities as a supply chain operations and management student has been a fun challenge.
“I’m just really busy,” he said. “Monday through Thursday I have classes from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and then we open from noon to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and I’ve been here every single hour, so it’s just, like, a lot of time.”
Currently, Chorley and Stewart run the shop entirely on their own, handling everything from sourcing the vintage clothing to managing day-to-day operations. Despite the long hours, both owners are committed to increasing the store’s turnout and sales.
Flow State Vintage has attracted a loyal following among Miami students, thanks to its assortment of pieces. Among those enthusiastic about the store is Miami strategic communications senior Lila Fitzgerald, who gets a lot of her clothes from vintage stores as a way to find unique pieces.
“I like the idea of knowing that I’m probably the only one that has it,” she said. “If you’re wanting to try out a new style, you can also experiment with second-hand clothes before you go purchase something more expensive.”
While there are many ways of defining vintage, pre-owned fashion retailer Vestiaire Collective categorizes pieces as ‘vintage’ if they are 15 years old or older.
Fitzgerald has shopped at Flow State Vintage and was impressed by the store’s selection.
“I bought three T-shirts there on Friday, and everything was pretty well priced,” she said. “They had a good selection of jeans and pants, and I loved the sweatshirts and sweaters.”
Shoppers can find worn-in staples like baggy jeans, distressed crewnecks and faded sports T-shirts, which reflects the more comfortable vibe that Flow State Vintage is going for.
“You don’t really walk into Farmer anymore and see many people wearing pearl snap button-ups and flare jeans,” Chorley said. “It’s more casual, which is just kind of in trend right now; nice, comfy, vintage stuff. Or just straight-cut 505 Levi’s with a hoodie and a cardigan.”
Social media posting, word-of-mouth recommendations and collaborations with local organizations have helped them grow their following on Instagram from 350 to 1,000 in just a few weeks.
“I just want as many people that would enjoy it, to know about it and come by whenever,” Chorley said. “The more people that walk in the more stuff that gets bought, and the best part about vintage clothing is we have something for everyone.”
Flow State Vintage is open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 7 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 37 W. High St.
