Sustainability is Groovy with Surf the Look

Image Courtesy: Surf The Look

While thrifting can be fun and exciting, it can also be a tedious activity with no guarantee that you’ll find the hidden gem you so desperately want. Luckily for us, there’s an easier way to shop for vintage and unique pieces. Enter Surf the Look, your new favorite place to shop for the trendiest pieces with ease. Vanessa Izmirlian, founder and CEO of Surf the Look, brings the beachy vibes with her finds, perfect for the upcoming South Florida summer and your coastal cowboy dreams. Today, Strike and I have the wonderful opportunity to interview the Florida local and young woman in business.

E: Hi! Tell us about yourself!

V: Hello! My name is Vanessa Izmirlian, and I am 24 years old. I was born and raised in South Florida. I went to Florida Atlantic University, and I have a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and currently am pursuing a Master's degree in marriage and family counseling.

E: Give us an introduction to how you started your brand!

V: When I was a junior at FAU, my love for thrifting grew when I started to discover the little mom-and-pop thrift stores around campus with my friends. I really loved reworking clothes by hand sewing and got the chance to practice on an old friend’s machine. I struggled in college working in the restaurant business and, unfortunately, dealt with daily harassment from one of my managers. At this point in my life, I fell into a really dark place, and started to feel out of touch with the things I really enjoyed. I knew this circumstance was only temporary, and I had to make a big leap to save my mental health. Finally getting the courage to start, I went out and bought my first sewing machine. My sweet mother and I decided to learn together how to use the machine, and the rest is history! It took me about six months to launch Surf the Look. It took me a while to discover what I wanted to name the brand. I wrote down about 100 of my favorite words that I love and eventually came up with the name.

E: What would you say inspires your creativity when creating reworked pieces?

V: What inspires my creativity the most in reworking clothes is that I have the capability to give the garment a new life! A lot of the time, I will flip through older magazines that my mom has or ones that I find in thrift stores for inspiration. I think one of the most inspiring things to me about fashion is how the previous decades used to dress. I find that there was such an appreciation for style, and how it coordinated in culture and music as well is just beautiful to me.

E: What would you say your vibe is for finding vintage clothing?

V: The vibe I love to go for when I am sourcing vintage clothing is definitely styles that are reflective of  ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, and 2000s fashion. My favorite decade for fashion is definitely the ‘70s. The patterns and vintage textiles are truly incredible when I come across a piece from that era! I try to remember when I am sourcing to keep an open mind about all styles and inclusive sizing as well. Whatever speaks to me, I grab and rework or keep its original style as is!

E: How important do you think it is to promote sustainability and “slow fashion?”

V: I find it extremely important to take part and recognize the slow fashion movement as it benefits not only people but our planet as well. Instead of wasting time chasing trends, it is important to understand that putting life back into thrifted or re-purposed clothing is a small step in the right direction. It is important to make purchases that are thoughtful and hopefully from smaller brands that are conscious about their products. It’s also important to recognize that individuals in third-world companies that work for these big-name fashion brands are being underpaid and work in extremely dangerous environments, and it's undoubtedly abuse. It is something that weighs heavily on my heart after writing a paper on a film called “The True Cost.” The prices of clothes keep decreasing, but environmental trauma has grown dramatically.

E: Many criticize re-selling clothing from thrift stores and “up-selling” those items; what is your stance on this perspective?

V: Personally, I’ve been approached with the opinions of others who criticize fellow vintage sellers and I about upcycling and re-selling. A lot of the time, people have said  things like, “I can find this for cheaper,” or “I can just go out there and purchase something similar myself.” Being in the reselling business for almost four years now, every guy and gal I have met in the reselling business has a story! We all take the time out of our day to travel hours sourcing pieces when most of us have full-time jobs as well. We all also study the trends and also take the time to cater to an audience, whether it is online or in person at popups. We basically have become the next generation of personal stylists, and each re-seller I have met has demonstrated these beautiful qualities that deserve all the praise and appreciation.

E: What’s it like being a young business owner? Do you feel that being an entrepreneur in the age of social media has been beneficial to your brand?

V: Being a small business owner has been one of the most exhilarating journeys of my life. Each day week or month is different. It has taught me that not everyone is going to love what you create, but it’s okay! Focusing your energy on the ones who want to see you succeed and adore your work is the most important thing. Social media has blown me away these past few years with the power it holds, especially on Tiktok. One of my favorite memories is when I finally started to push myself to talk on camera and create videos using the app. Sun Bum, which is one of my favorite brands, made a TikTok saying, “Stitch this video if you are a small business to get recognized.” I ended up creating a video of me reworking one of their old tops that I thrifted! About a month later, the team reached out to me and ended up sending me a trophy, winning Tiktok of the Year! Then, I was able to meet the team in person and do a few popups at the Sun Bum house, which was pretty amazing to collaborate with them. I kept getting in my head about the whole social media thing, but I kept having to tell myself, “Who the hell cares?” Put yourself out there, and you will find that putting in the work will lead you to find the most amazing opportunities!

E: How would you recommend shopping for trendy items while still caring for the planet?

V: How I would recommend shipping for trendy items while still caring for the planet is asking yourself a few questions before potentially purchasing! I think it’s important to do some research to see if the items you love are currently being resold on resale apps such as Depop or possibly trying to source similar items at thrift stores! Some of the questions I always ask myself are, “Do I see this in my closet long term?”, “Do I see myself passing this clothing down to a future daughter or relative?” and “Do I have the resources to donate this item to a small mom-and-pop thrift store if I find I have outgrown this trend?” And, of course, looking locally at small businesses and doing some research about smaller brands who carry similar items as well is a wonderful alternative! 

Staying groovy has never been easier, thanks to Surf the Look! Vanessa attends many South Florida pop-up shops and sells clothes on her website 24/7. You can find her on Instagram and TikTok @surf.the.look, and shop her website at surfthelook.com.

Strike out,

Boca Raton

Emily Fiorini-Casamayouret

Emily Fiorini-Casamayouret is the Senior Editor for Strike Magazine Boca. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys listening to sad music, doing some retail therapy, and eating pasta. You can reach her at emily.fiorini710@gmail.com