Meet Crystal Gitchell | Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Crystal Gitchell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Crystal, as a parent, what have you done for you children that you feel has had the most significant impact?
I believe that the most important thing I have done as a parent in terms of impact is showing them my true authentic self by giving my love and support. I lead by example and strive to show my child how to be empathetic and loving toward others. My child is also very creative. Supporting them in all of their artistic endeavors has been rewarding for both of us. The simple act of loving your child goes a long way. I have been very lucky to have a child that thrives on love and looks for me for moral support.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Marchioness Vintage specializes in garments from the 1940s-1980s. Our focus is on curating femme pieces to make available to all people. I identify as queer and am excited to have a place to showcase my love of fashion. Networking has been a very important part of growing my business. It really takes a village to grow and sustain a small business. I am proud to have built this on my own as a queer single mom in my 30s. I also have a full time day job, so I am very busy in my day to day life. Being busy is what makes me feel at ease.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m a huge nerd and love museums. My favorite in the city is the National Museum for Women in the Arts. The next stop would be the library of Congress. We would round out the tour with a trip out to the Air and Space Museum Udvar Hazy location out in Dulles to see the space shuttle!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shout out to the DC/Maryland/Virginia (also known as the DMV) vintage seller community. Without this group, I would have not survived my first year. The advise and opportunities to bounce ideas have been incredibly helpful to me in building my business. As a single mother, my child has been an active participant in my business. While it’s sometimes not so fun for her, I love that she is there and I appreciate the support from the vintage community when I bring her along to events.

Website: Marchionessvintage.com

Instagram: @marchionessvintage