3 minute read
Beyond Threads: The Cultural Odyssey of Feral Heart Club Vintage
Ariel Linebaugh and her journey through fashion and building a culture of upcycling
BY HANNAH BEARD | MARKETING & MERCHANT ENGAGEMENT MANAGER
Feral Heart Club Vintage, Downtown York's latest vintage shop, is a 400-square-foot hub of colorful, multi-textured, and eclectic vintage womenswear, accessories, and décor accents. It’s more than just a retail space at 49 N. Beaver St. that stocks clothing from the 40s through the early aughts. “Vintage clothing has been influenced by what is happening at that time in the world,” says owner, Ariel Linebaugh, “The articles of clothing tell a story that reflects the culture.”
After a decade of bringing Feral Heart Club Vintage to pop-up events and being part of the local consignment community, Ariel was ready to bring her unique aesthetic and vintage vibes to a store of her own. As to why she picked Downtown York as the home of Feral Heart, it’s because this is where she has lived and worked for the last 10 years. “We are a retro little town. I love it.”
Vintage culture encompasses a diverse and conscious community that rejects fast fashion and embraces a more steadfast wardrobe. Ariel respects and embodies the concept that vintage clothing is often of higher quality and made to stand the test of time. Articles, styles, and aesthetics from past eras are cyclical and come back around through the decades.
Feral Heart Club Vintage embodies the deviation of disposable culture, emphasizing the enduring quality and style of items from the past. “Every article is unique,” explains Ariel, “I tend to source items that are bright, colorful, avant-garde. The article is the piece. It’s the statement item.”
Ariel calls her sourcing adventures in old homes and estates, ‘search and rescues.’ Vintage culture often involves do-it-yourself (DIY) projects, where enthusiasts restore or repurpose old items, giving them new life. If she comes across an article of clothing that is in disrepair, she’ll upcycle it into another wearable form or piece of décor.
In addition to carrying women's vintage clothing, Ariel handmakes retro-style accessories, like earrings, and has a line of handcrafted high-quality cosmetics made with natural mineral colorants and biodegradable glitters.
Feral Heart Club Vintage showcases the individualism of past fashions and design quality that stands out from mass-produced contemporary trends, intending to celebrate fashion’s reflection of the culture at that time in history and apply it to the modern day.
