By Gabrille Onay
Edited by Imaan Moosa & Yumna Bodiat
Gabrielle tells us about her business Crybaby. Thrift.
Gabrielle Onay, founder of Crybaby.Thrift. Photo: Provided
Thrifting for me has always been in the heart of queer and eccentric culture. It focuses on rebirth, reclamation, and redistribution.
What was once old and lost is given a new home with a chosen family, a new life with a new backing track.
Being a thrifter for myself since 16 is what really got me into this little world of collecting and reselling.
What makes the process of finding and reclaiming items so special is the ability to re-home a garment that was discarded or tossed out. Finding torn-up love notes and melted sweets in the different pockets of items, learning the story of the clothing, and then reselling to a customer who is dying to give it new life, a new start, a chance to be worn.
My business started in 2016 when I briefly began selling items on a tastefully named Facebook page called 'Gabi Sells Second Hand Shit' (that’s me, I’m Gabi). Needless to say, I rebranded shortly after.
Flash to the first year at Wits University studying Portuguese and Sociology in 2018, where a broke and boujee girl decided to reinvigorate her love for creating and re-creating. I renamed the brand Crybaby.Thrift. After all, I have always been an overly emotional Aquarian.
After looking into the economic and environmental benefits of slow fashion, sustainability, and the effects of fast fashion on a macro-scale, it only seemed natural to run my own little store – one I could mold and position in any way I wanted.
And I wanted a lot.
Pictured: Crybaby.Thrift photoshoot. Photos: Fishcat Zombie (@in.fishcat.we.trust)
In the beginning, I most importantly wanted to find and resell clothing for all sizes - from smallest to largest. I wanted everyone to experience the beauty of thrifting I had experienced; finding crumpled love notes in a blazer from the 90s to finally finding that perfect-fitting pair of mom jeans (without the guilt of spending R700 at a fast-fashion store).
I set out on a mission: to make all bodies feel welcome and loved. I wanted people to come to my store and see themselves in my models and clothing, regardless of size, race, and gender.
I wanted to use as many of the beautiful bodies I had met and knew from all over. I wanted every person who clicked on the little face [Crybaby.Thrift] logo to know there is a store for them to shop at that is affordable, sustainable, and inclusive.
Pictured: Crybaby.Thrift photoshoot. Photos: Miche Jagjiban (@miche_jagjiban)
My crybaby store was becoming a cryteenager store. It had progressed, developed, and found newer ways to inspire, learn, educate and sell. In many ways, it quickly grew from just a thrift store for all sizes into a platform for all people - many beautiful, inspiring, and passionate humans who wanted to share and express. And the need and desire to express is huge.
I run events and competitions frequently on my page and I am always astounded and inspired by who and how many people enter. From MUAs to upcoming musicians and artists, I have been lucky enough to feature more than just my work in this crybaby world but so many others. This leads me to collaborate with incredible photographers, writers, musicians, and videographers, all of whom I mostly met online and through crybaby – many of whom have become close trustworthy friends.
Some entries for Crybaby.Thrift art competition. Photos: Provided
I have been able to give space to quieter more unknown artists and creatives whose only outlet is on their phones, and I have met the most genuine and respectful customers from different backgrounds – united in a weird and wonderful way by this little online thrifting page I started as an insecure fashion lover who wanted to make a buck and try something new.
Some entries for Crybaby.Thrift MUA competition. Photos: Provided
It's become a bit of a community and I feel very warm and safe about it. I really do consider most of the people I have met through this platform my second family, my crybaby family.
Crybaby.Thrift is more than just an online thrift store that can sell you a second-hand faux fur minx coat. We are a size-inclusive, body-inclusive platform that promotes local artists and upcoming unconventional models. We do not limit work or creativity because we do not see a limit. We work with people from all backgrounds and focus on encouraging small businesses overall – not just ours but those of our customers, peers, and fellow thrifters, and eco-friendly small businesses.
For me, running this business has given me purpose and a community. I always think this when I promote others and when they reciprocate: I do well when I am doing well but I do better when my community does well too. The cycle is so important, especially for upcoming smaller businesses and artists.
Support and follow the lovely Gabrielle Onay:
Instagram: @crybaby.thrift and @picnicandthrift
Check out Crybaby.Thrift's lookbook!
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