Interview W/ Madison Odenborg of Online Vintage Shop Barstad Collective

Madison Odenborg, co-founder of Barstad Collective is taking everything she’s learning in college and putting it right to work. This is something that I connect with, as I started a clothing line while still studying apparel design and retail consumer sciences.

We recently spoke with Madison about her online vintage clothing shop and what are some of her inspirations. Madison and her partners have created a membership service, where you can get hand selected vintage-items sent to you monthly.

How long have you been interested in fashion?

I think since Kindergarten, when my mom finally gave up on trying to dress me. However, I’ve never considered myself a fashion-guru; I definitely have friends that fill that role better than I do. More than anything I can recognize good style, and as I get older I’m figuring out what I feel best in.

I saw that you were going to school at University of Oregon. What are you studying ?

I am still enrolled at University of Oregon, but not for long– I’ll be graduating this spring with my BA in Advertising and French. Riley Metcalf, our founder, is graduating also with a degree in International Business. And our 3^rd member, Ian Murphy, is getting his masters in Business and Entrepreneurship from University of San Francisco.

Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. -Mark Twain

How do you balance school and launching a company?

I’m lucky to have learned good time management. It’s definitely a lot of work because I also have two other jobs in addition to launching Barstad and being a full-time student. I think it works out because I enjoy so much of what I do with Barstad, in no way is it burdensome. I also find that what I’m doing with the brand is completely related to what I’m studying in Advertising. I’m able to talk to professors, speakers, and fellow students about the branding and marketing I’m doing for Barstad while getting excellent advice & support from them.

Because Riley is also in Eugene, we’re able to work together when it comes to fulfilling orders, buying new product, and taking interviews. We also Skype with Ian weekly, who is abroad, and are able to have him work remotely.

Why are you passionate about what you are doing?

I think we’re all passionate about Barstad because it’s something we’ve been able to actually execute – it didn’t remain just an idea.

We’ve all talked about how it’s kind of a novel feeling. As students we’re used to putting effort in to a project in order to receive a good grade. But once you turn it in, it’s over and done with. With Barstad, it’s a project that could totally alter the shape our careers take, and it’s something we’re not only financially invested in, but also emotionally invested in.

We’re passionate about it because it’s a little bit of all of us—our ideas, our style, our words, in an actual living brand that couldn’t otherwise exist.

What are your favorite blogs?

I’ve been looking at a lot of menswear blogs lately so I definitely have a huge selection I could respond to this question with. It’s really incredible how many beautiful, smart, menswear blogs there are.

I love Foster Huntington’s A Restless Transplant.

We often look at:

A Continuous Lean,

The William Brown Project,

Mister Mort

and of course 7 Days Theory !

Who are you favorite designers?

I personally really like Alexander Wang and CdG. When it comes to shopping for Barstad, we love vintage finding Levi Strauss & Co., Pendleton Woolen Mills, and Ralph Lauren.

How have you gotten your name out there?

We have reached out to a lot of menswear bloggers that we respect and are inspired by. We also have been able to send out press releases to several publications, some of which have been generous enough to pick up the story. Other than that, it’s really been through word of mouth, which is arguably the most powerful form of marketing.

Add beer to your budget.

What are some things you have learned since launching your company?

– Collaborate as much as possible.

– Reach out to people & don’t be afraid to ask for help, advice, or honest opinions.

– Write things down, record everything.

– Accept the fact you will have to make changes on things you were once sure of.

– Add beer to your budget.

What’s one of your favorite inspirational quote?

I think it’s most appropriate to put the Mark Twain quote that inspired our Barstad branding here:

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”

Your video is dope – tell us about the creative process for creating your brand.

Jacob Epstein, who is obviously amazing at what he does, produced our video. He’s a good friend and we are grateful he was accessible to us. From the start we had this idea of the brand really being for an independent guy who doesn’t want to wear the mainstream brands that most people have. There was an edginess we wanted to convey (the video did a great job portraying that) that was supposed to exist within the idea of the Western, American man. This element of our brand emphasized our nostalgic pieces like bolo ties and Levi’s denim jackets.

I think a lot of our branding was drawn from the personality of our founder who very much embodies the Barstad man. There’s an element of him that does not want to in anyway fall in to the norm, but in an incredibly non-pretentious and humble way. As the person who OK’s a lot of our branding decisions, so much of him went in to the feel of the brand. Once we recognized that aesthetic, I was able to carry it out.

Where do you see the future of your brand?

We have a lot of hopes for the future of the brand. We’re working on some marketing efforts overseas (the third member of our business is currently abroad helping us do so), and we are hoping to do a US road trip / travelling pop-up shop in a vintage (of course) van.

We’re planning on enhancing out capacity to source vintage pieces nationwide, and would love to have buyers from several states contributing to the collective.