Ceramic Panther: Filling the vintage gap in Springfield’s fashion scene

SPRINGFIELD — Ceramic Panther, a vintage and secondhand clothing shop in Springfield, aims to offer one-of-a-kind pieces that shoppers won’t find anywhere else.

The shop’s focus on sustainable fashion and timeless style, fills a gap in the community as more people seek environmentally responsible shopping options, owner Stephanie Elise said.

Elise also offers style bundles and personal shopping services, where customers can request specific items or mood boards for her to source.

Her own wardrobe is about 90% secondhand clothing, curated from thrift stores and estate sales, she said.

“I’ve been able to style any trend,” Elise said.

And while it might take a little effort to find those trends secondhand, Elise said it’s doing the planet a service.

Her love for mid-century decor inspired the name Ceramic Panther, reflecting her fondness for ceramic panthers and lamps.

Her journey into vintage clothing and goods began with a cereal bowl from her childhood, leading her to discover a community of collectors and transforming her thrift store hunts into treasure hunts.

One day, Elise saw a cereal bowl that she had growing up at HomeGoods. Then, she started searching the internet and found a community of people who collect old Pyrex and kitchenware.

“I got into it, and that snowballed into me hunting into thrift stores, estates and everything,” she said. “It’s like literally treasure hunting.”

As a single mother, Elise aims to build a business that allows her to balance work and family life.

Elise dedicates about five days and 20 hours a week to sourcing vintage items.

“One of my most favorite things to do is hunt. Being able to find the gems, even if I’m looking through like an estate or another thrift store for three hours. If I can leave with five gems, that’s what I love,” she said.

The process involves not only finding unique pieces but also laundering and tagging them to ensure they are clean and presentable for customers.

“Tagging 100 pieces can take a few hours … but I am able to feel joy connecting the piece to the right person, because they might not have been found by someone who knows what they are and appreciates them,” she said.

To be considered vintage, a piece must be at least 20 years old, with true vintage items often dating back to the 1960s and 1970s, she said.

Elise said that the fashions from the early 2000s is currently trending.

“I’m definitely leaning into Y2K fashion, because it’s so unique and fun. I watch shows like ‘Friends’ just for the outfits,” he said.

Identifying vintage items involves checking for original clothing tags or screen-printed paper tags, which indicate the age and authenticity of the piece.

Vintage clothing is often made from durable materials, like cotton, silk, or wool, ensuring they last longer and can be passed down through generations, Elise said.

Elise contrasts vintage clothing with items from big-name retailers, which are often mass-produced in countries with questionable workplace practices and made from less durable materials, like polyester.

“They’re cute, but they are not going to last. And (although) trends do come back, if the piece isn’t quality enough to sustain until the trend comes back, then it ends up in a landfill,” she said.

By sourcing vintage items and connecting them with the right people, Elise said she helps reduce textile waste and promotes responsible shopping.

A vintage vision

While there is a fashion scene in the Springfield area, the vintage market has been a bit quiet, she said.

“I want to help build that in Springfield,” she said.

As one of the few curated vintage clothing shops in the area, Elise hopes to host a vintage and secondhand fashion show to further promote sustainable fashion.

Elise said her customers include fashionistas, streetwear fans and members of the LGBTQ+ community, all drawn to the eclectic styles curated by her and offered at Ceramic Panther.

According to Hypebeast, streetwear is a style of casual fashion that originated from the countercultures of the 1980s and 1990s, including graffiti, hip-hop, skateboarding and surfing.

Kids love the old T-shirts and baggy jeans, Elise said, holding up a Michael Jordan T-shirt from the 1990s. The Jordan T-shirt is an example of a more sought-after vintage sports piece, she said.

Ceramic Panther is in a marketplace on Gasoline Alley, 250 Albany St., and had a soft opening in March.

A collaborative grand opening event for the entire Urban Food Brood and Monsoon marketplace is scheduled for May 18.

The marketplace houses about seven other businesses, including Nosh Cafe.

Ceramic Panther is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and is passively open during marketplace hours.