As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, recent University of Cincinnati DAAP grad Monica Briggs was having trouble finding a job.
“Some of the graphic design jobs I was applying to had 600-plus applicants,” she says. “So, I decided to use my time to get creative and pursue my passion project while I wait out the pandemic.”
That project — which started as a senior project — is Apt. 25, a website that offers both unique handmade goods and curated vintage finds, promoting conscious consumerism and sustainability.
“Apt. 25 is all about giving old products a new life and encouraging consumers to shop secondhand,” Monica says.
Launched with her sister, Michelle, and Michelle’s fiance, Jeremy — all of whom have backgrounds in design at DAAP — the name comes from Michelle’s apartment number in Boston. Jeremy and Michelle’s decor served as the inspiration for the launch as the one-bedroom blends “a colorful mix of vintage and modern pieces,” says Monica, and the duo also designs and makes the handcrafted goods on the website.
“My grandma was somewhat of a collector and we always loved looking at all of the trinkets in her knick-knack shelves in the hallway,” Monica says. “This became the inspiration for the handmade knick-knack shelf on our site.“
In addition to the handmade goods, Apt. 25 sources vintage items from a variety of places. The first batch of products for sale comes from Millersburg, Ohio, with future items to be listed coming from antique shops and thrift stores in Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati and the New England area.
“Growing up, my family would often go to Millersburg, Ohio to visit and shop the antique stores. Over the years my sisters and I have made these trips a tradition and started looking at items for our own homes,” Monica says. “I ended up moving to the West Coast for a short time, while my sister was on the East Coast in Boston and we always complained about how the antique/thrift stores were overpriced and picked-through. We realized that there were a lot of great vintage products in Ohio with potential but they were not reaching the right consumer.”
The current round of finds features mostly glassware, but Monica says upcoming collections including a 1980s-themed batch that will go live this fall.
Pricing is researched and based on similar products, as well as the item’s condition.
“Buying vintage items can be expensive and time-consuming, but our goal is to make it affordable and as easy for someone to buy used as it would be to buy new,” Monica says.
“We always say Apt. 25 is for people who love vintage items but don’t necessarily have the time to search for pieces themselves. We wanted to help streamline the secondhand shopping experience for them.”
Learn more about Apt. 25 and see what’s for sale at apt25.shop.
This article appears in The Meaning of Monuments.