Ballito Umhl - NOV 2020

Shopping has never
felt this good
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure - a saying that Durban North fashionista
Vanessa Osterroht has turned into her sustainable shopping motto. Now, she has taken
it one step further by turning her recycled fashion passion into a side hustle that will
update your wardrobe and help out a stranger all in the name of Poppin Tags.
e pinned 2020
as the year of
vision. Instead, it
became the
year of the virus.
Bucket-list travel plans
- cancelled. Getting that promotion
- denied. Saying “I do” surrounded
by your closest - postponed. Besides
robbing us of our freedom, Covid-19
also killed businesses - big and small
- and forced people into dark places.
We have had to reinvent ourselves to
survive, start a side hustle to pay the
bills or turn the pocket-money maker
into the bread and butter winner.
After seeing first-hand how businesses
and people were struggling during
lockdown, Vanessa realised that
relying on her corporate day job was
not secure enough. She saw a gap in
the shopping industry and knew her
thrifting hobby could be the answer.
“Who can afford clothes nowadays?
Seriously?! I started thrifting a while
ago and now, pretty much my whole
wardrobe is thrifted! I love a good
deal, especially when it is a high
quality, niche item that you won’t find
anywhere else. Thrifting is life and I
want to share that!”.
Noticing that other thrift stores were
upping their prices too much, she
took a leap of faith and in July started
her own feel-good start-up business
called Poppin’ Tags. “I was inspired by
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ hit song
Thrift Shop. I had this vision of me
wearing a big fur coat - not that I
could wear fur because I love animals
- being this cool pimp of a thrift shop,
poppin’ tags all day long,” laughs the
30-something, bubbly blonde. She
Being able to pay it forward to a stranger
and spread that sense of a community
that cares is so healthy in these times.
has taken savvy shopping to the next level by buying gently-worn clothes from
overseas and selling them for a fraction of the usual retail price on her Insta shop.
“I basically buy a massive lucky packet and have no idea what is in it. When I’m
done with my day job, I come into my little shop room, blast some French jazz
and unpack all the clothes. My evenings are spent sorting, washing, steaming
and uploading the newest items on Insta.”
Her clothes range from cute Mango tops to gorgeous Burberry cardigans and
soon-to-arrive summer dresses. Pants, however, are a total no-no. “I have a golden
rule - if it’s been on your bottom, it is rotten!”
And for each item you buy, you get a free one to donate. “I am very serious about
quality and super straightforward about what condition the clothes are in,
because I have felt conned before. The items I don’t feel comfortable selling go
to the donation side. When you buy an item, you get your biodegradable baggie
to take home and enjoy and you get a second one to donate to anyone who
crosses your path. You don’t know what is in there and it is not for you to open.”
First-time shoppers are generally quite surprised by this novel idea and even
feel rather startled. “Lauren Ginn, for example, is one of the ladies who randomly
came through to buy a top one day. I gave her a second baggie and she was
confused. At that moment, there was a mama going through the rubbish across
the road and I suggested that she give the baggie to her. She did and it was such
a happy moment. She put up this amazing post on social media and just blew
me up out of the water. I owe a lot to her!”
Giving people the opportunity to share in these tough times is what makes
Vanessa’s day. “I wanted to change people’s mindsets and it has taken off
incredibly well. It has created something that is way bigger than me, it is a
movement. Being able to pay it forward to a stranger and spread that sense of
a community that cares is so healthy in these times.” Feeling part of that local
love network is a newly discovered feeling for Vanessa and one that she intends
to grow. “As awful and destructive as this lockdown has been, it has brought
back a sense of community. People are hustling. They have to and it is bringing
us closer. We are getting to know our neighbours and we are supporting each
other. We are bringing back that village living feel. Starting Poppin Tags has made
me support local small businesses and I love it! The whole shift has been violently
rewarding.”
Details: Instagram: @poppin_tags031
November 2020 Get It • Ballito Umhlanga 29