Meet Jeremy Fairchild | Upcycled Clothing Designer & Recovery Activist

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

Hi Jeremy, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Me! For most of my life I battled with anxiety and depression. I think most people can understand masking yourself to the public during work or putting on the office face from 9-5. Well when I was 22, in 2009, I was the driver in a motorcycle wreck that resulted in the death of my friend riding on the back. RIP Anna Neitzel.

From that time on I feel like I needed to mask that to the world. And my only redemption would be finding financial success. I held so much shame and guilt that I hid it from anyone but close friends and family. As a felon I was limited heavily in my career. I had to lie to employers just to get an admin job doing inventory control, working my way to purchasing manager. Eventually the check boxes were checked. I lived in a nice place, had a new vehicle, solid career, spending cash, I was also a functioning alcoholic. That shame ate at me until there was nothing left of myself at all. In 2019 I was drinking myself to death, I weighed 300lbs on a 5’10 frame, and had gout so bad I couldn’t walk. The good news is I survived the bad is that I needed 2 years in prison from 2 DUI’s that year. My last drink was July 11 2020.

This path would continue unless I accepted the things that had happened. What better way to do that than make it my entire platform. The next thing I wanted was to create something I could vend. But I had never done that, can’t draw, can’t paint, and had no idea how to run my own business. When I did a simply bleach dye for fun I was hooked. Finally there was a creative outlet. Months spent practicing and learning tying techniques, science behind dying, and sourcing vintage and second hand clothing. For the first time I was creating something of my own without critique and judgment or fear of rejection. I was healing in ways I did not anticipate. Seeing myself grow through my art was an amazing experience and continues to be. Believing in my own abilities and trusting my intuition felt like shedding callouses.

With a product and business I felt like I had permission to be in communities all over Phoenix and connect with others. I had a real piece of space for myself to share my experiences. There was an understanding with myself that it might not work, that others might not want to hear my story or I wouldn’t be successful financially. That was ok with me as long as I stayed true to myself and created something I was genuinely proud of.

Many factors go into my brand from sustainable clothing, art, addiction, mental health, recovery and my ongoing search for community. The more intent I show in each of these areas the more Thrift N Dye and myself grow.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My past experience in production environments and working with multiple vendors aides me heavily. Being able to multi task and have 23 things in progress is necessity as a small business owner. I also have experience purchasing for a large business. I feel like seeing pricing on a large scale has helped me understand how to price my items properly. I sell upcycled Tshirts that I reverse dye with traditional tie dying techniques. It took a while to grow enough inventory to be as successful as I wanted. Having variety and options as a reseller is incredibly difficult! It seemed like every time I would do a market with a new bundle of shirts every “good” one would sell. My talent as an artist was growing almost as fast as I could create shirts. Once I believed in the product myself I invested into a larger market and into stocking even more product. I went to the Goodwill Bins, Salvation Army, Estate Sales, and created 100 shirts over a week. I needed that period of scaling up to be ahead of demand, then I began having great sales.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’d take them to the market of course! Where you will find all the unique entrepreneurs that I love spending my weekends with! When the weather is nice there is always an event somewhere with locals promoting their creations and speaking about community.

I don’t think it’s fair to show someone Arizona without taking them to Sedona to hike and see the red rocks. A visit to Camp Verde on the way back is nice to see the beautiful greenery and some of my favorite antique shops. During Spring we get morel mushrooms I enjoy foraging for near the Mogollon Rim.

In Phoenix it’s worth visiting the Phoenix Art Museum and the Heard Museum.

My favorite food spot is always changing for today we’ll say Monroe’s Hot Chicken, Lil Miss BBQ, and Mozzarepa’s a local food truck vendor.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Gabby at Regina Rose Hemp Oil Skincare and Wellness. She approached me at one of the first events I vended. She showed support not only in appreciation of my craft, she purchased multiple! She also gave me the best piece of advice I’ve had yet. I need to value my product and the art I am creating. My pricing and needed major adjusting as I was still putting my business together. I owe much of my early success to her and love seeing her hustling all over Arizona.

Website: https://thriftndye.square.site/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thriftndye_az?igsh=eXp2ZDc2eWpqajhv