Today we’d like to introduce you to Chayla B..
Chayla, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
CHAYKE: [shake], verb, the act of being a stylish + sustainable shopper.
My name is Chayla B. and I am the founder and owner of CHAYKE Vintage Boutique, LLC. CHAYKE is a platform to showcase my love for sourcing, curating, connecting, and styling. The mission is to spread love, save the earth, be stylish, and create a community of like-minded individuals who feel safe to express themselves in whatever way they may please!
My first memory of sourcing is at the age of ten at a thrift store in Elizabeth, New Jersey. At that moment, I felt something indescribable that would later manifest into what CHAYKE is today. I thrifted and sourced second-hand clothing and accessories throughout high school and college as a hobby. I would regularly get asked about pieces I was wearing and my answer would always be the same – “it’s thrifted.” During the pandemic, I had such a large collection that it could be deemed excessive. Although sustainable fashion is never really excessive :). In the Summer of 2020, I decided to creatively direct my first photoshoot ever in hopes of finding the secondhand pieces a new and loving home. The photo shoot provided a tangible reality of the lifestyle I desired, which resulted in a website, blog, and a community of like-minded individuals grounded in love and sustainable shopping.
In addition to my innate creativity, I was deeply inspired by my late Nana Glynn. I would look at photos of her and admire her sense of style and beauty. I would deem her style classy, fun, and timeless! Shoutout to Nana Glynn!
Those who purchase an item through CHAYKE are called MILKCHAYKES: [milk-shakes], noun, a stylish + sustainable shopper. I always encourage milkchaykes to flavor themselves based on how they’re feeling emotionally or visually. For example, I feel like a banana milkchayke today – yellow and bright as the sun! What flavor milkchayke are you? <3
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road of entrepreneurship and bringing your desires to reality is not always the smoothest road but it is always worth it. I have had several obstacles in the journey of CHAYKE. Some include finishing school with little to no income, moving across the world to Germany, and simply being ignorant of the world of business.
My advice to myself and others in the world of creativity and entrepreneurship is to keep learning, connecting, and realigning with yourself and your desires.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in sourcing, curating, creative directing, and styling second-hand and vintage clothing and accessories. I never limit myself to one particular era or style. As an individual, I am always evolving and I like for my work to reflect that. In the three years I’ve been doing CHAYKE, I can confidently say that no photoshoot has been the same style-wise. Through creative directing photoshoots for CHAYKE, I feel I’ve been able to expand my creative outlook and abilities.
I enjoy connecting with individuals and aiding them in their journey of visual expression. I offer personal thrifting services in hopes of bringing a newfound love and comfortability to oneself through sustainable style and sustainable shopping.
I desire to provide a story and a visual with every piece featured on my website. Clothing is a form of art, an expression of oneself, and a love language for myself. I want people to see a concept or time of my life that resonated with me. I want others to feel inspired and to build a community grounded in love and self-expression.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is alignment. CHAYKE is something I created that aligns with me at my core. I want CHAYKE to align with others whether that’s through love, visuals, the blog, styling, conversations, sustainability, curating, etc. In simple terms, I just want everything to be genuine, and with that comes alignment with people, places, and information.
Pricing:
- Prices range from $25-$150
Contact Info:
- Website: chayke.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopchayke/
- Other: http://www.tiktok.com/@shopchayke
Image Credits
@j.b.h.photography Jeremy Howard (main photographer) @cosmic.cayla Cayla Lamar (model) @milkchayke Chayla B. (model, photographer, creative director) @edielleco Edith C. (model)
