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Vico Style's first brick-and-mortar store opened in a former ATM space on Sunday, March 18, and already has a second location on the way, according to founder Cecilia Hermawan.
Named after Hermawan's desire to prove that vintage clothing can be contemporary, Vico Style was founded in March 2022 and originally sold vintage pieces via pop-up shops before settling down in its Cambridge location.
Hermawan sold vintage clothing for years before creating Vico Style, selling as a side hustle while pursuing her MBA at Babson College. Vico Style was born when she decided to make her passion project a full-time endeavor.
"My goal is to showcase that vintage is wearable," Hermawan said.
With that goal in mind, the cozy 200-square-foot Harvard Square location has a different theme each month. Each piece of clothing is curated to fit the cohesive look, and shoppers can expect something different within just a few weeks.
"The current theme is "grandparent core," Hermawan said. "So you'll see textured blazers, you'll see grandmother's paisleys, you'll see vintage lingerie as a layering piece."
Vintage clothing is different than thrifted clothes and must be at least 20 years old to qualify for the title, Hermawan explains. Items aren't donated, they are curated.
At Vico Style, each piece is cleaned before it hits the sales floor, and vintage sizes are translated to modern-day sizes to make shopping easier.
Other than the age of the clothing and the sustainable nature of shopping second-hand, Hermawan says Vico Style is a regular store - it just happens to be old.
The founder's passion for transforming unlikely spaces into retail opportunities is continuing in a Beacon Hill location (formerly a workout studio) set to open later this month.
Click here to access Vico Style's website.
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