Novelty Brooch Friday - January 2015!

Happy New Year and wishing you all a fantastic 2015!  I hope it brings you adventures, love, creativity and happiness.

This month I was so happy to be approached by Zohar from RakShniya Vintage to offer a wonderful vintage brooch to one lucky person this January.  I have been following Zohar's shop on Etsy for a while now and also follow her on Instagram (@rakshniyav). Not only was I curious to learn more about her shop and her interest in vintage clothing but also to learn a little more about Tel Aviv, a city I don't know anything about.

Thank you Zohar for your time answering the following questions, I have loved reading your answers.

When did you start your shop and what inspired you to start your vintage Etsy shop?

In my late teens my sister started working in a second hand shop called "Rak Sahniya". "Rak" & "Shniya" in Hebrew it literally means "only" & "second." It's a pun with two meanings – one: a phrase saying "just a second", two: in our case (if used in the literal sense) "only second (hand)." My mother befriended the owner, one thing led to another and they decided to be business partners. In August 2014 the shop closed after 11 years and after being quite frankly one of the biggest and best second hand shops in Israel.

During those years I worked on and off in the shop and got to join my parents and my mother's business partner on their visits to people's homes, rummaging through their and their loved ones closets, cupboards and storage. I was already hooked on vintage for a quite a while.

Since the shop had such a huge clientele most of which brought in clothes and items on a weekly basis, somewhere in 2009 I got very frustrated with the fact that a lot of really beautiful and rare vintage items weren't reaching enough people because there wasn't enough room to keep everything for a long time. Then I discovered Etsy and a whole new journey started. 

Is there a particular era of clothing you appreciate more than others?

I'm very big on the 1940s right now. I love that a lot of the 40s designs are romantic and feminine but also clean and simple at the same time. Really though, I'm all about liking whatever strikes your fancy. My closet has a mix of eras, fabrics, textures and silhouettes. I'm never looking for something specific, I look for items that are interesting and that I can wear often. And that is what my shop is really about: I might be a big vintage fashionista but my customers don't have to be and I want them to be able to sneak a special vintage something into their outfits, something that they can incorporate into their daily life. 

You are offering a beautiful brooch to a lucky winner this month, can you tell us a little bit more about it?

This brooch has been a part of my private collection for quite a few years now. I don't know much about it's history but I do know it was loved because it's in such good condition. I grew up in a Moshav (hebrew for village) so nature and animals are an important part of my life. I like how this brooch has a soft and edgy mix to it: it's made from metal and has very specific accurate detailing and yet the subject, the goat looking through the leaves is very heart warming.

Could you tell us a little about Tel Aviv, what you like about your city and what you like to do when you have free time?

I am madly deeply truly in love with Tel-Aviv. It's hard to explain without actually visiting. There's something for everyone here but what I love most about Tel Aviv are the back streets, the architecture, the hidden gardens, the small coffee shops and pubs. I love how you could pretty much walk anywhere you like. I like getting lost in the city during those walks. Last year for my birthday, my boyfriend got me a book of the city's historic buildings and when we have some free time we pick a neighbourhood and walk around while reading my book. If you let it, Tel Aviv can feel quite magical, and you even get used to the faint smell of pee that comes and goes.

Is there any advice you could give those wanting to start their own business?

Starting your own business (especially in the sea that is the internet) is a hard thing to do, sometimes your passion for what you do is the only thing that keeps you going. I think it's important to remember that it's OK if you can't get everything you want done by the time you want it done. Most of us have families, a 2nd (and sometimes 3rd) job, there's always something to be done that reduces the time you have for your business and you don't need to punish yourself because of that. Try to structure your schedule and plan ahead and set boundaries (for yourself and for people around you). Also, since you’re the boss, remember to have fun and challenge yourself! 

Thank you Zohar and below are a few other places you can find Zohar:

Shop Marmelada Market (HEBREW) 

@rakshniya Instagram 
Rakshniya Pinterest 

Twitter - @rakshniya

If you would like to enter simply take a photo of yourself on Instagram on any Friday in January using the hashtag #noveltybroochfriday to be in the running to win this fabulous brooch.

The winner will be announced on Monday 1st February.

I can't wait to see the new brooches you were lucky enough to receive over the Christmas break, see you on Friday Broochettes x

If you're a brooch maker/designer or vintage seller of brooches and would like to donate a beautiful brooch to the giveaway and have your shop featured, please email me with a little info about your designs and shop and hopefully i'll get you a spot on the calendar.  

tunabake@hotmail.com