FREE take one
CELEBRATING 40 GREAT YEARS 1974-2014
SPRING SUMMER 2014
Spencer & Kerstin Block
Editor’s Note Welcome to a special edition of our Buffalo Exchange ‘zine in which we celebrate 40 years in business! We are so excited to share our 40th anniversary with all of you. This issue is divided into decades highlighting customers, company history, employees, and, of course, fashion. Since these pages are just a small representation of our company, we invite you to share with us your favorite stories and treasured finds as we tour the country this spring in our 25 foot customized Airstream boutique. You can share by tagging us @BuffaloExchange & #BufEx74 on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Speaking of the tour, there are so many reasons to come out and visit us when the trailer rolls into your town. First off the trailer itself is adorable both inside and out, and it will be filled with lots of treasures that each store has been saving up over the past year. Secondly, we aren’t celebrating just by hauling the Airstream around the country; we are thanking each and every customer who stops by with goodies – from collectible pins, stickers, and beautiful temporary tattoos, to items you can receive if you make a purchase. You will find the tour progress online at buffaloexchange.com or #Bufex74 on social media. Many thanks to all of our amazing customers for 40 successful years in business. It is with great pride and a love of serving all of you that we move into our 41st year in business – here’s to another 40!
Zine Team: Rebecca Block, Joe Carrel, Kurtis Durfey, Inara Edrington, Gneiss Hobbs, & Stephanie Lew Publisher: Buffalo Exchange Ltd. Illustrators: Allyson Bennett & Porter Wells Printers: Arizona Lithographers & Western Web Graphics Contributors: Allyson Bennett, Virginia McInnis, Kristin Welk, & Dana Whitney Photographers: Joe Carrel, Linda Hjorth, Stephanie Lew, Tim Minker, Stacey Plattenberger, & Balfour Walker Special thanks to all of the stores that contributed
please recycle
History of Buffalo Exchange
from one perspective
I was nine years old in 1974 when my mother and father opened up the first Buffalo Exchange store in Tucson. It was a small space of about 400 square feet, filled mainly with stuff my mom had been collecting or that friends of hers brought in. I had been dragged around to thrift stores since a very early age, so the fact that my parents were opening a used clothing store seemed normal to me. I was aware at the time that things weren’t so great in the U.S. It was the era of gas lines, recession, and general uncertainty on a lot of levels. However, it was also a time when Americans were looking for new ideas and new ways to live in a more sustainable manner. In retrospect I realize that my parents were entrepreneurs in a free market economy, and that their concept worked. Admittedly this was lost on me at the time as I spent my days walking to the store after school, and then putting rubber bands on the ends of hangers so the sweaters wouldn’t fall off. The silver lining was that I could watch re-runs of Gilligan’s Island in the back while doing so. People really did prefer to get cash or trade credit for the clothing they no longer wanted, instead of just donating it. They also got a kick out of finding well selected treasures that others no longer had a use for. Cowboy boots, vintage Hawaiian shirts, Gunnie Sax dresses, Japanese kimonos, and just normal, everyday wear – all of these things were bought and sold in that little store. Since I couldn’t hide out in the back with the hangers too long, I also worked the floor. The upshot was that I received an incredible education about clothing during those formative years. As luck would have it, the shoemaker next door vacated his space and the store was able to double in size. And so it went. Another store was opened a couple of years later in Tempe, Arizona near Arizona State University. And then another store in Tucson, and then a store in California, and then another. And so on. While I would occasionally demand a new clothing item, those were few and far between. By high school I was wearing vintage jackets with 501s, and vintage dresses to the prom. I became a full-fledged buyer during college, and my love for clothing only grew. After a few years of trying other things, my folks finally won me over and I went back to the business full time. Over the years we have always grown organically, when and where the opportunities arose. Some cities were obvious matches (Portland, OR), and some grew to love to us (Austin, TX). Word spread that every Buffalo Exchange had something special about it. Customers came to love their local store and swore it was THE BEST. While we now have 48 stores across the country, we are still doing business the same way my parents started in 1974, in that tiny little store by the University of Arizona. We buy, sell, and trade great clothing in an atmosphere of fun, and we do so with honesty and a smile. This is our main thing and we still love doing it today.
1988
1979
Vella Austin
Chief Operating Officer
34 years with Buffalo Exchange
About Style
When I started at Buffalo Exchange in 1979 my style was bohemian with an appreciation for all things unique and beautiful. I loved wedge shoeslike Kork-Ease and the India print wrap skirts that were popular at the time. There was a short-lived phase in the late 80s where I sported a designer career look that just didn’t suit me at all. That was my only fashion regret. My style now is once again bohemian. The best fashion advice I have is to know yourself and stay true to your style through all the fads of fashion.
About Work
I applied to Buffalo Exchange because I had found treasures there and a very descriptive ad (á la Spencer Block) in the paper caught my eye and intrigued me. The best part of my job is the people. The people I work for, the people that I supervise, and the people we buy & trade clothes with! Diverse, fashionable, fun, and dedicated people.
About Life
I have a degree in Agriculture, so I’d thought surely I would live a self-sufficient lifestyle on a spread of land- but for now I am content with a big herb garden and mastering the art of keeping my orchids in bloom. I also enjoy sipping wine while cooking and a good slow clap.
Fashion
Then & Now The 70s was a time of liberation from the gender-specific fashions of the 50s and 60s. A new world of exotic prints, patterns, and colors flooded the market while excitement was heightened by the rise in affordable travel. Designers like Emilio Pucci captured public desire with bold colors and mind numbing patterns.
While a 70s retro dress made of polyester may not be so hot today, the patterns and play of exotic fashion live on. Today you can easily spot bold patterns and unique colors in every collection and everyday fashions. The silhouette may change over the years but the influence of the 70s is never forgotten.
Shannon Harrison Shannon has been a customer at Buffalo Exchange since 1974!
What was your favorite fashion trend when you started shopping at Buffalo Exchange?
I started shopping at Buffalo Exchange when I was 16, the year they opened. I loved the idea of trading in your clothes for used, worn in, and groovy clothes coming out of the 60s & 70s. At that time I was quite the southwest gypsy. High moccasins, fiesta skirts, leotards. The Hawaiian shirt selection was awesome.
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself:
I used to teach a sewing/recycled clothing class to teens. It was inspired by my beautiful daughter McKenzie, who I lost at age 16 in a car accident. She was someone who inspired people to be more expressive with their clothing, not care so much about trends or new clothes.
How would you describe your fashion now?
I have never really been one to know fashion, check designs labels, or pay much attention to the recent trends. I guess I have my own style. Comfortable, colorful at times, mostly earth colors look good on me.
What is your best fashion advice? Fashion verses style, you either have your own style or you’re following the main stream of fashion.
McKenzie 2002
1980s Fashion in Film written Gneiss by Hobbs
illustrated Porter by Wells
The fashions of the 1980s keep coming back for a reason! It was the era of Punk Rock, New Wave and the Valley Girl ― and it was a blast! If you’re looking to get in the Brat Pack spirit, or you just want to see what it was all about, all you’ve got to do is watch a few classic 80s movies. Let’s start with Madonna. The Queen of the 80s herself starred in Desperately Seeking Susan, and as the title character she spent the entire movie running around in her signature lace gloves, teased hair, bows, bustiers, layered necklaces, and stacked bracelets. So totally 80s. Of course we really can’t talk about the 80s without mentioning Molly Ringwald. This John Hughes film princess appeared in Sixteen Candles (1984), The Breakfast Club (1985), and Pretty in Pink (1986). Her fair skin and red hair amplified her characters, especially while turning a vintage prom dress into a total masterpiece in Pretty in Pink. But we must admit that Duckie (Jon Cryer) was Pink’s true scene stealer. Duckie’s style was a “nothing is too much” pileit-all-on-at-once approach. He pulled off layers of vests, bolo ties, hats, creepers, and blazers like no one else could. The Breakfast Club portrayed each main character type of 80s suburban high school drama, like the “criminal,” the “brain,” the “jock,” the “basket case,” and the “princess.” Guess who played the princess? That’s right — Molly Ringwald!
The 1983 movie Flashdance starred Jennifer Beals as Alex, a welder at a steel mill by day, and dancer by night. This movie gave fashion-forward gals the inspiration to take attire typically reserved for aerobics and dance classes into classrooms, malls, and even the workplace. Off-the-shoulder sweatshirts and legwarmers were an essential for pulling off this look. Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? All right, so Ferris (Matthew Broderick) and Cameron (Alan Ruck) didn’t necessarily spark a fashion craze. But Ferris’ girlfriend Slone, played by Mia Sara, sure did! She enjoys their day off while wearing a white fringe leather jacket, slouchy suede boots, and high waist shorts. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off from 1986 is always worth a watch. In the 1984 iconic amazingness called Footloose, Kevin Bacon plays a hip Chicago teen who moves to rural nowhere and steals the heart of the local preacher’s daughter. Skinny ties, messy hair, and tight jeans mix with overalls and flannel shirts to create a veritable cornucopia of 80s fashion statements.
These are just a few movies to come out of the 1980s that are sure to take you back or give you insight into an outrageous decade of fashion!
80s Movie Recommendations: An American Werewolf in London
St. Elmo’s Fire (’85)
Can’t Buy Me Love (’87)
(’81)
Better Off Dead (’85)
Mannequin (’87)
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (’82)
Brazil (’85)
Earth Girls Are Easy (’88)
Blade Runner (’82)
Back to the Future (’85)
Heathers (’88)
Valley Girl (’83)
The Lost Boys (’87)
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
Risky Business (’83)
Some Kind of Wonderful
(’89)
Repo Man (’84)
(’87)
Say Anything (’89)
Linda Nowland
My favorite fashion trend when I started shopping at Buffalo Exchange?
Not a trend. A LOOK. The unusual, the exotic!
My style now? The unusual, the eclectic. How has shopping at Buffalo Exchange influenced me?
I love to just watch the staff and customers for fashion ideas. They are a diverse group, diverse ages, and, if we are lucky, they are from different countries too. It reminds me sometimes of sitting at a café in Europe watching the strollers!
What is my favorite find?
It is a Cop copine black long skirt with brown kick pleat and wrap around stripe “apron” that zips with a copper zipper. COOL!!
Best fashion advice:
Read foreign magazines. Look at people and see what you like about their outfit.
Biggest fashion mistakes:
Not being true to yourself! Wear what makes you feel great or humble, whatever the goal that day.
My Favorite movie?
I guess Annie Hall really made an impact on me.
What am I most excited about for spring/summer 2014? Calf length skirts, airy soft light colors.
Customer Since the 1980s
Fashion
Then & Now The true influence of the crop top dates back to the 40s when the twopiece playsuits allowed a slight bare midriff. However, in the 80s crop tops took a full turn into aerobics, DIY, and glammed out fashion.
The trend continued to live on into the 90s where it became widely accepted and transformed into formal, work, and everyday attire. Today the crop top comes back in many forms. Festival goers first rejuvenated the popularity by spor ting it as an easy cover up at local events. Then a retro influence brought back match set playsuits of the 40s and now you’re most likely to see Miley Cyrus or some other young pop star showing off their midriff.
1986
Dana Whitney
Store Development Coordinator 29 years with Buffalo Exchange
About Style
When I started at Buffalo Exchange in 1984 I was a bit of an (almost) ex-hippy. I remember wearing a rayon embroidered shirt from India on my first day of work. There were all of these great rayon knits that came out about then that I loved. And oh how we loved to ‘peg’ our jeans back then! Now my style is comfortable, classic, boho. I don’t really like trends, they kind of bore me quickly. I love it when somebody does something creative that I’ve never seen before, especially if it is using a common object in an innovative way. My best fashion advice is buy what you love even if you don’t know what it will go with. Sooner or later it will work well with some other piece in your closet that you love.
About Work
My job basically includes demographics work, site selection, designing, set up of new stores, and upgrading the visual look of existing stores as needed. I love that my job is never the same. Each store has its own personality and design. I get to shop the thrift stores for treasures for our stores and then integrate them in a creative and hopefully innovative way.
About Life
I tend to be an accidental collector. When I see something I like, I buy it, and when I find I have several I realize it has become a collection. This most recently happened with accordions, of which I have three but do not know how to play.
D a n a ’s a b o ot c m a z i n g o l l e ct i on!
90S GrungE W hile the punk scene of
the 70s wanted to make a statement, and the glam metal bands of the 80s wanted popularity, grunge music of the early 90s could care less about either. Flying under the radar of social acceptability was the only goal here, and the fashion of this slacker movement reflected that perfectly.
The clothing was ill-fitting, mismatched, and never brand new. Labels didn’t matter. Flannel shirts and Doc Martens were staples for both sexes. The jeans were faded and usually ripped. Dresses were either long “grandma� style flower prints or babydolls paired with fishnets or leggings (also usually ripped). Since grunge originated in the Northwest, items like ski caps and thermals were a natural. The hair was long, dirty, and unkempt. And worn out tees of obscure bands tied things right back into the music scene. Models: Laine Baker, Thom Diep, Jessica Pruitt, Linda Hjorth Photos: Joe Carrel, Linda Hjorth, Holly Coombes
This scruffy independence, free from the normal young adult strivings to be “cool”, was just the persona Gen X kids were looking for. So despite their wishes to avoid the mainstream, grunge bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden became the reluctant stars of early 90s music. And while both music and fashion have inevitably marched on in the 20 years since, grunge’s time at the forefront still reverberates well into today. — Joe Carrel
beyond the obvious GruNge PLAYLIST
Heavy Into Jeff - “Mi Amigo” Tad - “Leafy Incline” Heatmiser - “Candyland” Gruntruck - “Crazy Love” Babes in Toyland - “Sweet ‘69” Paw - “Jessie” Screaming Trees - “Shadow of the Season” Green River - “Swallow My Pride” Hole - “Credit in the Straight World” Skin Yard - “Start at the Top” Love Battery - “Between the Eyes” Mudhoney - “Shoot the Moon” Powderfinger - “Tail” L7 - “One More Thing” Pond - “Wheel” Mad Season - “I Don’t Know Anything”
Celeb of s r New & rating 0 yeashion 4 a R
ecyc led F
MAR 7
thru
MAY 22
BUY
SELL TRADE
Buffalo Exchange has been buying, selling, and trading daily since we first opened our doors in 1974. We buy all day, every day, for all seasons.
When you come visit us during the tour (or anytime), remember to bring in items that you no longer want from your closet.
When the trailer lands in your town come enjoy some of the amazing finds that the stores have been collecting just for this tour (see Kerstin’s Vintage Finds in the NOW section for a sneak peek). We also have a collection of fun goodies to share with our customers during the tour.
Š2014 Buffalo Exchange
Stephanie Edelbrock Stephanie has been a customer at Buffalo Exchange since the 1990s
What was the fashion trend when you first started shopping at Buffalo Exchange? 90210 was in full swing, so naturally anything that Kelly, Donna or Brenda were wearing I was too!
What are you most excited to wear this spring and summer? Dresses! Dresses! And more dresses!
Who is your fashion icon? Carrie Bradshaw
What trends inspire you?
Trends that turn into a classic, like the full skirt that trended in the 50s, might be a bit shorter these days but keeps coming back. It was a great trend and now a great classic.
What’s your best fashion advice?
Dress for who you are now...shape, size, personality...no need to wait for who you’re hoping to be...You’ll feel more confident and sexy if you’re in what fits and feels good now. Dress for you!
If you could have lived in any decade of the 20th century because of fashion which one would it be and why?
50s and 60s... Think Mad Men. And why... Classic.
1995 2002
Mina Alegria
Training Department Manager
18 years with Buffalo Exchange
About Style
When I started at Buffalo Exchange in 1995 I wore a variety of styles and was able to mix it up. My style was very 90s and tomboyish. I loved Nikes! I was inspired by Clueless and 90210. I had a pair of baggy Tommy Hilfiger overalls and I wore them all the time—very TLC. Now my style is diverse and classic. I still mix trends together. I wear everything from vintage to Stussy to JCrew. I am inspired by urban wear and preppy. This spring I am looking to add new printed Vans and printed jeans to my wardrobe.
About Work
I started working at Buffalo Exchange when I was 16 years old. I have held many positions and worked at many Buffalo Exchange locations over the last 18 years. I truly enjoy the experience Buffalo Exchange provides. I have had an opportunity to work with some amazing, openminded, intelligent people, who have helped me gain a great deal of knowledge about business, developing great employees, and clothing, of course.
About Life
I enjoy music and I got to see three great shows this past fall—Drake, Jay Z, and Kanye West! But I spend the majority of my free time with my family, especially my 4 year old daughter, who loves shopping as much as I do.
Originally, seen in the 60s mod culture with high white boots and vibrant colors, daisy prints returned to an all-time high in the 90s.
Fashion
Then & Now It was a print for all styles of clothing. Crop tops spor ted a mixture of micro daisies or a simple large single daisy. Maxi dresses were often a daisy print on black, while accessories and jewelry showcased plastic faux daisies. Even Dr. Mar tens showed off the line with multiple daisy prints.
Today that memory doesn’t seem too distant when daisies are on the rise again. In late summer 2013, daises began to reappear in the market; the flower is expected to be a top print choice in summer 2014.
Mike Shaffer Philadelphia Store Manager
10 years with Buffalo Exchange
2003
About Style
When I started at Buffalo Exchange in 2003 I was really into trucker hats. I’d personalize them by stitching homemade patches on them, like skulls and crossbones, cupcakes and all that jazz. I wore band tee shirts almost every day and I was really partial to colorful Nike Dunks and track jackets. I was also heavily into Western shirts but that really hasn’t changed. I still wear one at least once a week. Now I tend to dress classic casual in the Fall/ Winter months and kinda wild in the summer. My influences are: hot dads, 90s alt culture and music, as well as 90s dance/R&B, Roseanne, and Philly street style. It sounds like a mess but it makes sense to me. This spring and summer I’m looking for buttondown shirts in bold stripes and solids in every color. I’m also going to have more fun with shorts in square cuts and fun prints and colors including orchid, cornflower blue, fuchsia, and melon. I’m stoked to wear my cotton overalls and I plan on getting more. I’ll be looking for skippies with polka dots and topsiders in bold colors. I also randomly want old hardcore band shirts from days of yore.
About Work
I get to have fun with people on a daily basis whether it is talking to a customer about their outfit, their favorite clothing, or their jobs. I also have to say that getting to “play” with clothes is always rad. As Buyers we get to shop through people’s closets and be stylists for our business. We get to hear stories from sellers and we get to convey a story through the pieces we have selected. It’s pretty great.
About Life
I’ve been DJing at my favorite Philly clubs under the name CNNR for a little under two years. It was originally DJ Conner, named after the son on the show Roseanne, which is my favorite TV show and fashion/life inspiration. I shortened it because no one understood it anyway. Being a DJ, I listen to lots of producers of music and other DJs. I’ve been into DJ Sliink, Trippy Turtle, and Active Child. On my phone right now, I’ve been listening to a mix of everything like Lifetime, old Saves The Day, The Gossip, lots of 90s R&B, 60s girl groups like the Ronettes, and hardcore and screamo bands from my teenage years like You and I and Converge.
Joyce & Tim Customers since the 2000s Your Style: Joyce - Clean, minimalist, effortless (as in lazy). Tim - Homogenous. Fashion Regrets:
Joyce - In middle school I had a pair of glittery bell bottom jeans by LEI. They were amazing, actually. Tim - I try not to think about what I’ve worn in the past, mostly to avoid retrograde embarrassment. Fashion Icons : Joyce - Julia Sarr-Jamois, Liu Wen, Olivia Pope. Tim - Pharrell, David Bowie, and Waris Ahluwalia. Desired Spring Trend: Joyce - Prints, d’Orsay flats, and sweatpants, honestly. Tim - Shorts. I’m also getting really into floral prints, so however I can work them in to my wardrobe.
Favorite Buffalo Find:
Joyce - I have a Steven Alan shirt dress that I bought for $13! Tim - My awesome blue cowboy shirt with yolk pockets. Best Fashion Advice: Joyce - Keep it simple. Tim - Don’t be afraid to try out new things. It’s easy to change outfits.
Fashion
Then & Now By the millennium the landscape of denim was changed forever. Designer denim brands: 7 For All Mankind, True Religion, Joe’s, Hudson, Citizens of Humanity, and others were founded from 2000-2005. These lines introduced an innovative use of fabrics, fit, and finishes to mainstream denim. Each denim line had its own signature back pocket design that was recognizable from across the room. Extra details like rhinestones, stitching, wash treatments, grommets, etc. pushed people to spend more on a pair of jeans than they ever thought they would.
Today’s most desirable denim is nondescript and has little-to-no detail. These are not the same jeans you loved in the early 2000s. Designer denim lines that are still relevant today have lasted because of their fits and fabric innovations. J Brand continues to be prominent in today’s market because of their chic and simple styles. The classic, high rise, five pocket, skinny jean has become a staple in many wardrobes.
Š BalfourWalker.com
Victoria Villela Customer since the 2010s
What was your favorite fashion trend when you first started shopping at Buffalo Exchange?
I bought this leather fringy belt. I thought it was so weird and interesting. It has been a good piece to spice up plain dresses. It adds both a unique focal point and accentuates my waist!
Do you have any fashion regrets?
I used to really like Gauchos and begged my mother to buy me some.
How would you describe your style now? A clash and modern.
between
bohemian
What is one of your favorite Buffalo finds? A few weeks ago I found a Calvin Klein dress that reminded me of a dress in the Alberta Ferretti Spring/Summer 2014 collection. I bought it instantly! I then took it home and altered it into a skirt that I am so in love with. It’s high fashion on a budget!
Who are your fashion icons?
Tavi Gevinson- She’s super funky and not afraid to take fashion risks. She has also impacted the fashion world with her blog and magazine.
Tania Kelly
Charlotte Associate Manager 2 years with Buffalo Exchange
About Style
I was recently told that I dress like I am putting on a costume and I can totally see that. I’ve always felt I dress like that quirky trendy best friend from a sitcom. I am getting more and more into the whimsy that is Free People. I’m also trying to find a way to incorporate Steampunk into an everyday outfit without looking like a movie extra. A fashion mistake people (myself included) make is buying a cheap bargain item because they feel like they’re getting a deal and saving money. However, if you buy a classic item that has good quality with good construction it will last longer than that bargain rack piece.
About Work
When the Buffalo Exchange opened in my neighborhood I was hooked. The staff was so friendly and they encouraged me to apply. So happy I listened to them! Clothes are with you while you make memories. I feel like I help create memories for customers when they find an outfit; something they will wear in their own adventures.
About Life
In addition to being an Associate Manager I’m also a local actress and sketch comedian and writer. I’ve even won best actress awards.
Vintage Finds by Kerstin Block, Buffalo Exchange Founder A sneak peak of what you may find in our traveling Airstream Pop-Up Shop.
Mexican wool tourist jackets are uncommon and this one is special due to the amount of embroidery on the back. The donkey is particularly cute. These date from the 40s through the 60s. Tip: Look for moth holes by holding the fabric up to the light.
Tooled leather purses and clutches date from the 30s through to the 70s. The more detailed, the more likely they are to be older. These classics complete any western outfit.
This fringed deerskin jacket is just amazing. These are becoming rarer, although we do see a lot of them in the west. They were made from the 40s through the 60s.
Fiesta skirts date back to the 40s and 50s when tourism picked up in places like Arizona. When new, they usually came with matching blouses and made for a striking ensemble. Typically small in the waist, these skirts hold up well and are great to go dancing in.
Mexican embroidered dresses are still made today, which just proves what great classics they are. Embroidery is done by hand, but quality can vary. The tighter the work, and the more embroidery on a piece both increase the value. Tip: be careful when trying these on since they can look big, but the chest area can be small.
Cowboy boots, vintage and current, are a fashion mainstay. Look for leather lining inside, and detailed stitching designs. When buying them make sure the last (sole) fits comfortably the first time you try them on.
Turquoise jewelry is another enduring western find. The colors of turquoise are so varied, from intense blues to almost green, that a collection can always have just one more piece. Tip: Better turquoise and Native American jewelry is always sterling, and generally has the initials of the maker stamped in it.
Allyson Bennett Local Portland tattoo artist, Allyson Bennett, is the girl behind the beautiful artwork of Buffalo Exchange’s 40th Anniversary Tour. We sat down with her for a quick Q & A.
How it all star ted: I’ve been drawing constantly since before I can even remember. There are loads of pictures floating around in old photo albums of tiny me with markers or paints or pencils in my hand, and all over my face most of the time. It’s pretty much the same today. The opportunity arose for me here to start a tattoo apprenticeship in 2006 at a shop that was looking for another female artist. I got my start there, moved to Tucson for a few years, to San Francisco, then back to Portland where I plan on putting down roots for a while!
Her Favorite Piece: I don’t know if I have a favorite piece. I think my favorite piece is always the one roaming around inside my head... the one I’m thinking about constantly and really excited about painting or tattooing. I know each time I work I get better. That’s what’s so cool about my job... it’s what I love to do.
Inspirations: Traditional tattoos, americana, old rodeo posters, victorian ephemera... the list is pretty long. It’s hard to explain. There’s a certain feeling looking at those old drawings gives me. Anything old and hand drawn or painted. Folk art. Animals. Nature.
Her thoughts on Buffalo Exchange: Oh gosh, every time I go to Buffalo I go on a super manic spree and bring like 1000 things into the dressing room! I’m THAT girl. I do remember one time when I was doing a guest spot at Three Kings in New York I got my all-time favorite winter coat at your Williamsburg location and I wear the hell outta that thing. Best coat EVER.
Her Free Time: I try to paint as much as I can, but also allow myself time to get out of the city. I’ll throw my dog in the truck and drive out to the river or the coast or some trail or mountain to clear my head. I think it’s important to keep things in balance.
Finally, the American buffalo is such an iconic animal that it was easy to work the company’s namesake into the décor more than once. We also included some fabulous old ‘historical’ pictures taken of founders, Kerstin & Spencer, and of the old days in the stores.
I have a little bit of a love affair with vintage suitcases, so I was excited to be able to use them in the trailer. Repurposed sewing items such as old yardsticks, drawer pulls made from wooden thread spools, and a vintage sewing machine cabinet continue the clothing and travel theme in a more subtle way. The trailer’s clothing racks were made from plumbing pipes in tribute to the pipe wall racks in the original Buffalo Exchange stores in the 70s & 80s.
Creating the interior of the Buffalo Exchange 40 Year Anniversary Airstream trailer is by far the most fun design project I have done! Keeping in the company theme of recycling, almost everything in the trailer was purchased in thrift stores, flea markets, or antique malls.
by Dana Whitney
Airstream Inspiration
LAS VEGAS VENTURA SHERMAN OAKS LOS ANGELES PHOENIX TEMPE FULLERTON LONG BEACH COSTA MESA SAN DIEGO
SAN FRANCISCO
BERKELEY
EUGENE
PORTLAND
SEATTLE
BELLINGHAM
TUCSON
DENVER
AUSTIN
ALBUQUERQUE
BOULDER
NEW ORLEANS HOUSTON
DALLAS
MINNEAPOLIS
WASHINGTON D.C.
PHILADELPHIA
CHARLOTTE
ATLANTA
CHICAGO
NEW YORK ASTORIA BROOKLYN
SOMERVILLE BOSTON
Buy Sell Trade Albuquerque • Astoria • Atlanta • Austin • Bellingham • Berkeley • Boston • Boulder Brooklyn • Charlotte • Chicago • Costa Mesa • Dallas • Denver • Eugene • Fullerton • Houston Las Vegas • Long Beach • Los Angeles • Minneapolis • New Orleans • New York City • Nogales Philadelphia • Phoenix • Portland • San Antonio • San Diego • San Francisco • Santa Monica Seattle • Sherman Oaks • Somerville • Tempe • Tucson • Ventura • Washington D.C.
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