Charlotte, and the culture at large, is in a “renaissance” of vintage fashion and a search for quality materials of years past, at least according to local stylist and entrepreneur Jaleak Gerlitzki. Gerlitzki is part of a blossoming fashion scene in the city: vintage reselling and personal styling. Saturdays are often populated by pop-up markets, and the street vendor scene in NoDa has continued to grow, even amid controversy.
Gerlitzki, a Pennsylvania native who moved to the Charlotte area during his teen years, says he sees people are looking to return to quality amidst a world that seems filled with fast fashion and cheap materials. His vintage reselling business and styling services reflect a growing interest from younger generations – TikTok is full of videos of people going through Goodwill bins and selling on platforms like Depop, with the aim of repurposing materials, being more eco-friendly, or simply to stand out with style that may not fit current trends.
Talking to Gerlitzki about this movement and his fashion curation is like a breath of fresh air, and his passion is palpable. He’s been in the fashion scene in Charlotte since 2021, and at just 25 years old, feels it only goes up from here. We decided to get his thoughts on the state of vintage fashion, the Charlotte fashion community, and how his business and passions fit into it all.
How did you get into fashion?
I’ve always been very intrigued and interested in fashion, but I started thrifting around the age of 10 and began teaching myself about materials, fabrics, patterns, and different eras over the years. As I got older, I never expected to make vintage a business – it was something I just loved to do personally.
In your early 20s, you know, you’re trying to figure out what you really want to do. A lot of times, we look out too far when it’s literally right here the whole time – we just gotta water it a little bit. At 21, I did my first pop-up at a poetry event, and I did really well. Then I did my second event and did not go well at all, and I questioned if I could really do this. But that day was so important, because of a dude named John I met there when he bought something from me because I didn’t make any sales. He motivated me and got me to come out to NoDa with him. I brought one rack out to NoDa, and I just wanted to see how it would go. I started to feel like I had the credibility to come out and show stuff, interact with people, and express my heart to the world.
Often, we show up for other people, but do we show up for ourselves? Over time, I started doing it consistently – I made sure to come out to NoDa and cultivate my market and my people. And then, of course, I diversified it by doing markets and events. I’m only in year four, so this is a dope Renaissance, being a creative and being able to really express myself.
Why do you think more people are gravitating towards vintage clothing, pop-up vendors, and markets?
I feel like it’s definitely a Renaissance of people just wanting good quality. I think that’s why people are so drawn to old-school furniture, clothing, and other similar items. We want quality materials back, and I feel like so many things now are watered down. We want to get back to those good, creative roots, with things made with quality and intentionality.
[Vintage sellers and vendor experiences] are more curated than thrifting yourself, you’re not over-stimulated with a whole lot of crap. You can go through 50 things that are like trash, just to find one piece, versus going to a more curated spot, which takes less time. Also, if you respect a certain artist or vendor, or if you appreciate the person’s style, you’ll just keep coming back to them, like the same barber you keep going to, because you’ve built that trust.
What sets vendors like yourself apart from regular shopping experiences?
Usually, when people come in to shop, I like to guide them, because sometimes they honestly don’t know what they’re looking for. That’s often what people want: your vision. They might trust your vision so much that they simply let you pick out things for them. I also like to hear what people are in need of to start. Like, what are you going for? Is it casual? Is it more fun? Formal? And then we can find things from there together.
There are plenty of people selling vintage out there, but everybody has their own curation, their own taste, and perspective on what vintage means to them. Some people focus on t-shirts, others on dresses, and others on higher-end goods, all the different niches. I think people are attracted to that because whatever you like, you can get it. And it’s touched by another human being who curated it, who took a look at it, who really had to put some extra thought versus maybe going somewhere else.
And I feel like nobody’s really storytelling through vintage, let alone on an editorial level, being authentically themselves and not following trends. You are the trend, you know. We see too much of everybody trying to be like everybody else. I really try to showcase that as much as possible through my clothes, art, and in person. When you meet me, I want you to be able to feel my energy.
What is your process like for finding vintage and thrifted pieces?
For some people, thrifting can be overwhelming. But for me, I break it down bit by bit. Depending on what I need at the moment and knowing what my current audience wants, I make sure to keep a stock of those items. I check that I have all these different types of sizes, colors, shades, and fabrics. And I set the intention on what I really want to find.
You never know what you’ll find with thrifting – it’s always like a hunt. What I tend to look for are materials. I like to find cashmeres, wool, furs. I look for quality. I’m not really a brand person. I’m really more of a quality connoisseur.
I know the market has been somewhat messed up by people coming in and, honestly, just reselling. Personally, I’m deeply passionate about vintage and quality, and that passion is reflected in the way I work with my customers. It’s not just “buy here and go.” It’s really a whole experience.
What is the fashion and artist community like in Charlotte?
It’s just dope to be around creatives who can see the vision. It’s so important to be around people who are motivated and want to do better because it’s gonna inspire you to do better. It’s gonna inspire you to keep going versus settling for where you’re at. Or, sometimes you get in your head, and you need that person to come and say something. I appreciate a good tribe, a good circle.
I have a homie named Asa who used to shop from me all the time, and he’d bring his friends over, too, and I got some great opportunities from meeting his circle. It’s always so important to treat people well because you never know who you might meet, and word of mouth is huge. So much of this work has been from small connections, little by little over time.
With the NoDa space, we’re actually going through a vending issue right now, and they’re trying to make all the vendors get permits, which is no issue. But I’ve been in my same space for about four years, I wouldn’t want to have to leave that location until I’m actually ready to move to a storefront. There’s definitely been some growth in the community, though. I know that without NoDa, I wouldn’t have been able to excel to the level I’m at without the learning experience of being outside every day in the streets with people and interacting with them. Selling your work and allowing people to get a feel for it in person, seeing your energy, and having the freedom to express yourself creatively in such a free zone has been key.
How does styling work?
The styling side is definitely something that I’ve had to develop myself and manifest. When I started getting into it, I didn’t know where to start, who to talk to, or how to find them. Thankfully, I met a photographer named Lindsay, and he recognized my talent early on and wanted to work with me. We started doing editorial photo shoots, and the fact that I found such deep understanding with a photographer was amazing. And I literally just started teaching myself in real-time. So, creative directing, set designing, and styling – it was kind of like wearing five different hats. I feel like the best thing you can do with your craft is to learn to get better and be around people who support that.
We basically create these editorials to tell stories with vintage in a more eclectic way. The goal here is to take pieces that you might have thought were meant for one thing and turn them into a whole new perspective. I try to be creative and have fun with it, and not get too wrapped up in making everything so polished. These editorials are pieces of art, honestly, and I hope to one day have a gallery or something to display all of these different pieces for people to see.
Through these editorials, I also like to support other creatives in Charlotte, so I try to collaborate with different makeup artists, hairstylists, and models to cultivate that community and provide more opportunities for people.
I also do personal styling outside of editorial shoots. I get people who shop with me and then want help styling. Or they’ll have an event or vacation they want help planning outfits for. I can get all your outfits ready for the whole trip, so that way it’s easy for you. Right now, I’m a freelance artist, so if anybody wants to just hit me up and get styled, I can build a consultation, and we can talk through your vision and pricing.
What growth/change do you see on the horizon for this fashion scene here?
I see the vintage world taking off. But I do think people right now are focused on a lot of trends. Even with vintage, people have still found ways to be trendy, with items like Carhartt, graphic tees, and racer jackets, which so many people look for. Now, as we go further into vintage, people will start to discover more of their true identity and where they fit within the vintage community. Are you more of a 70s person? 50s? 80s? We’re starting to get more people who are transcending into the actual depths of fashion, with its different levels, areas, and figuring out what’s best for them personally, their own flavor and style.
I think here in Charlotte and in the South, people are starting to dress a little better and with more of their own individual styles. Up North, I feel like people would get on you if you weren’t as dressed up or original with your style, but down here, it’s a little more lenient. I think people are starting to be more accountable and serious about their fashion. I think we’re leaning more towards individualism, and I really love that. I’m really here for people to be uncomfortable. Just get a little uncomfortable and step out of your comfort zone by dressing differently than someone else would.
What goals do you have for yourself in the future?
Right now, I’m trying to create a lookbook to possibly be published in a magazine or gallery or something. I’m working with some fellow artists to get creative and make something that’s very enjoyable from a visual perspective.
One of the goals that I made for this year was to do more collaborations and pop-ups, which I’ve been doing. I had a pop-up recently with some different brands around Charlotte. There are so many different events going on, and people are starting to build so many different communities around that. You bring your crowd, I bring my people, and we grow the community.
I’m also hoping to host vintage fashion shows here annually. I’m planning to do a show this fall. Right now, I’m just working in the background and planning without saying too much, but I definitely think that Charlotte will excel fashion-wise.
How would you describe your personal style?
Timeless, eclectic, and I’d just say optimistic. I don’t keep it too predictable – I want you to be excited every time you see me, like, “What is he gonna have on today?”
I would say my favorite piece that I’ve ever bought is this 70s or 80s llama hair trench coat. The tag says it’s from West Germany, when the Berlin Wall was still up. That coat is probably worth thousands of dollars. I can’t even find a replica or similar piece, so it’s rare. And I actually found it in the bins at the thrift about three years ago. That’s why it’s so important to pay attention to materials and learn about those things. I really try to look for vintage coats because they were just so well-made.
What is your advice for people who want to get more into fashion or develop their unique style?
I’m really trying to break the trendiness. I’m trying to break the idea of everybody being the same. I want everyone to be different and express themselves in their own unique way. I want people to think when they’re building an outfit: “How am I pairing things together?” You can mix and match, step out of your comfort zone, and try something new. It’s how you get your best results.
