Meet Lauren Topor | Sustainable Fashion Retailer

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

Hi Lauren, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
My approach to work like balance has certainly evolved over the eight or so years that I have been working independently.

In addition to running my e-commerce fashion-based business @nearlynewbylo, I also work independently as a freelance writer and photographer.

At the beginning of my freelance career I was always on. And that’s something most small business owners, entrepreneurs, gig workers, and freelancers can probably relate to.

The main reason why I chose a freelance career was to have more freedom, ultimately being in charge of my time, on my terms.

But since I wasn’t working a 9-5 or showing up to a specific location to work each day, my work day began when I woke up and ended when I went to bed at night. This was not sustainable, obviously.

Today, I use my home office as my primary place of work. This keeps work-related things separate from my personal life.

I also work during the daytime (normal working hours) and I shutoff at night. Although I am still guilty of checking my emails after hours.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My interest in fashion blossomed when I was working for a Fortune 500 department store during my college years. I was fascinated by designer fashion. But I was a broke college student. And I didn’t have the budget for it.

Enter, secondhand shopping. By shopping the racks at the local thrift stores, consignment shops, and discount retailers in my area I was able to find incredible pieces for more than bargain prices.

I consider myself a collector. I love vintage clothing. And I love that I can make my customers happy by providing them with unique and hard-to-find clothing items that you can’t just get off the rack at any high-end boutique or department store.

@nearlynewbylo challenges my creative side every day. I am my businesses’ creative director, stylist, buyer, photographer, accountant, copywriter, shipping department, you name it! It brings me joy that I touch every single part of @nearlynewbylo — from sourcing the item to packing and shipping it to a customer.

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 have lived in Phoenix for just over 10 years and I’m always surprised at what the city has to offer. We have a great food scene. And don’t get me started on the outdoors. Here are some of my favorite spots, and things to do, in Phoenix.

Dining
Sottise – cute little French-inspired restaurant in a historic bungalow Downtown
Pachamama – the entire menu is plant-based and it’s delicious
Pemberton – Downtown Phoenix community-style hangout with food trucks, bars, music, and more

Nightlife
Undertow – great tiki-style drinks and an unmissable experience
Bitter & Twisted – reputation as one of the best bars in the city, country, and world
Valley Bar – more laidback than the first two, but a fun experience
The Churchill – Downtown Phoenix spot made from shipping containers with bars, restaurants, and small shops

Coffee
Fourtillfour Cafe – great coffee and they host vintage car meets every weekend
Maverick Coffee – the staff is always so friendly and they have really creative drinks, if you’re into that sort of thing
Regroup – coffee and bike culture collide, they know bikes and they know coffee

Shopping
Turnstyle consignment – multiple locations across the city and always great prices
My Sister’s Closet – great designer brands and you can always score a deal
Vintage by Misty – amazing curated collector of designer vintage fashion items for men and women – a must when visiting if you love clothes!
Scottsdale Quarter – open-air shopping, mall vibes, lots of restaurants, boutiques, and brand stores

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Truthfully, as cliche as it may be, my shoutout has to go to my mom, Cindy.

She gets all the credit for fostering my thrift habit. Without all those trips to the thrift store in my youth and teen years, I’m not sure that I would have ever started @nearlynewbylo.

I don’t just sell vintage and gently worn clothes. My fashion business is rooted in sustainability. Textile waste is a huge issue, it’s estimated that 17 million tons of textile waste ends up in landfills every year. @nearlynewbylo’s existence keeps clothes out of landfills and gives otherwise discarded clothing items a second life.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nearlynewbylo/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurentopor/

Other: https://poshmark.com/closet/nearlynewbylo https://www.depop.com/nearlynewbylo/

Image Credits
@nearlynewbylo