Featured Curator: Diana Evans of Minor

We recently spoke with Diana Evans from Minor who curates a rad collection of kids vintage items for La Loupe Vintage on Park Blvd.

Here’s what we learned..

Are you originally from San Diego? (If not, where’s home?)

  • I am not. I was born on Oahu, Hawaii and raised between Japan & Hawaii.

How did you get started selling kid’s vintage?

  • I was a kids clothing designer in the licensed industry for 8 years, when I started to feel like my designs were a major contributor to the planets many landfills and I wanted to use my experience and passion to work towards creating a more sustainable fashion eco-system for our youth.

How would you describe your brand?

  • Three words I would use are:

    • Throwback/ FUN/ Conscious

  • Throwback because yes they’re vintage so “duh”, but as a parent, no matter what decade you were raised in, Minor has a throwback piece that you remember wearing as a kid. It brings a sense of nostalgia and uniqueness that you’re able to share with your little ones! FUN is in capital letters because, you just can’t look at a Minor rack and not smile. The amazing color combinations that span from the 1950s-1990s, the silhouettes that make you think, “I can’t believe they made clothes like that!”. Your babes can be vintage fashion icons too! Last but most importantly, conscious because Minor wouldn’t exist without Mother Earth in mind. The fashion industry makes up for 1/3 of the waste that is produced on our planet and the 2nd most water intensive industry in the world. While one tiny brand can’t change that alone, we are part of the change to leave behind a cleaner, more thoughtful way for our planet to thrive for the little babes that we clothe.

What do you love about selling vintage?

  • Easily, it’s sharing my passion (children’s fashion) + how we as consumers can help to reduce waste with families by buying vintage/ secondhand. But what I love most is the relationships that I’ve made in this community. The most loving, supportive, group of badass business owners who have taught me so much and made space for me in ways that I have never experienced in my years in corporate America.

What is one fun fact about you that people might not know?

  • I recently got an e-bike through the county, where I have to log the miles I ride, which forces me to do it more. But I enjoy it so much because it pushed me to get outside, explore new parts of SD and even ride with friends which has been so enjoyable!

What excites you right now? Like what gets you out of bed in the morning?

  • A super exciting project I’m working on for Minor. My check-in’s with my production manager are only about once a week but it lives in my head rent free at the moment 😅. It’s been so hard not to scream about it at the top of my lungs because it’s something I’ve been dreaming about since my adolescence I think.

What is the coolest item you’ve ever had in your shop?

  • The coolest item would have probably been the Saks Fifth Ave Western Leather vest that sold at La Loupe in my first 2 weeks. I’m really hoping the new owner of that will tag me in some photos because that was a beauty!

Any future plans for Minor?

  • Absolutely! So speaking of what’s been getting me excited, I am currently in the development phase of my own sustainable children’s line that is inspired by my childhood & Japanese culture. I have shared a little about the details and process on my IG. They will be small batch designs, created from deadstock fabric, made in LA and I’m hoping to have my first designs ready for pre-sale by this summer.

What advice would you give to someone who’s just getting started in vintage?

  • Definitely go for it! There’s never too many vintage curators because everyone’s styles and needs are so unique but definitely, find your niche. What makes you stand out from the rest? And lastly, community is important, so make friends! You will learn so much from your peers and other business owners who have been doing this for years. Like I said earlier, this community is loving and more than likely have gone through what you’re going through.

How can people find/follow Minor?

Brandi Munoz