Meet Eric Sawall | Founder & Creative Director, Vintage Yacht Club

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eric Sawall and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eric, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Vintage Yacht Club really started from a simple conversation between family. I asked my sisters if we wanted to start a business together, and that conversation slowly turned into reviving the spirit of our grandmother’s antique store — but through the lens of coastal California and the harbor culture we grew up around.

We felt like so many stores were becoming disposable and transactional. Everything started looking the same, feeling mass produced, and losing any sense of story or craftsmanship. We wanted to create something different — a place filled with pieces that feel discovered instead of manufactured.

The idea behind Vintage Yacht Club was to build a brand around nostalgia, craftsmanship, and the feeling of coastal living in places like Dana Point Harbor. Not just apparel, but objects, artwork, and goods that people would actually be proud to keep in their homes, on their boats, or eventually pass down.

A lot of our inspiration comes from old marinas, classic yacht clubs, weathered wood boats, harbor towns, surf culture, and the imperfect details that make things feel real. We’ve always believed imperfections, history, and wear tell a better story than something brand new off a shelf.

At the core, we didn’t start the business simply to sell products. We started it because we wanted to preserve a feeling — the slower, more intentional side of coastal California that seems to be disappearing.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always been drawn to things that feel timeless — pieces with history, craftsmanship, and character. That’s really the foundation of Vintage Yacht Club. Even though we create apparel and curate home goods, antiques, and artwork, I view the brand itself as a form of storytelling and art direction. Every product, object, photograph, or display in the store is meant to evoke a feeling.

What sets us apart is that we’re not chasing trends. We care much more about creating something lasting and meaningful. A lot of our inspiration comes from old yacht clubs, harbor towns, vintage surf culture, weathered boats, maritime history, and the slower pace of coastal California that seems to be disappearing. We try to blend that nostalgia with a more elevated and modern perspective.

I’m probably most proud of the fact that people genuinely connect emotionally with the brand. Customers will walk into the store and tell us it reminds them of their grandparents’ beach house, summers at the harbor, fishing with their dad, or growing up around the marina. That means a lot to us because it shows the brand is creating memories and not just selling products.

Professionally, the journey definitely wasn’t easy. Building a small business comes with constant uncertainty, long hours, financial pressure, and a lot of trial and error. There are moments where you question whether your ideas will work or whether people will understand your vision. Early on, one of the biggest challenges was learning how to trust our instincts and stay consistent even when growth felt slow.

I think one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of simply starting. For a long time, owning a business was always a dream, but it’s easy to overthink things, wait for the perfect timing, or feel like you need everything figured out before you begin. The reality is that most people never start because they’re too afraid of failure or uncertainty.

At some point, you just have to take the leap and trust yourself enough to begin. You learn more by actually doing than by endlessly planning. No matter what happens in the long run, I’ll always be proud that I at least tried to make my dreams a reality instead of wondering “what if.”

Another lesson I’ve learned is that authenticity matters more than trying to appeal to everyone. The more we leaned into what genuinely inspired us — coastal heritage, craftsmanship, imperfections, storytelling, and intentional design — the more people connected with the brand. I’ve also learned that building something meaningful takes patience. Most great brands aren’t built overnight. They’re built through consistency, community, and a clear point of view over time.

I want people to know that Vintage Yacht Club was never meant to be just another retail store. It’s really about preserving a feeling and a lifestyle. We want people to slow down, appreciate quality, gather with family and friends, spend time near the water, and surround themselves with things that have soul and story behind them.

At the end of the day, if someone walks away feeling nostalgic, inspired, or more connected to that coastal way of life, then we’ve done our job.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If one of my best friends came to visit Southern California for a week, I’d want them to experience the side of coastal California that still feels authentic — the harbor towns, surf culture, old restaurants, hidden beaches, and slower pace that inspired Vintage Yacht Club in the first place.

A lot of the trip would revolve around Dana Point, San Clemente, Laguna Beach, and Catalina because each place has its own personality and history. I think the best parts of Southern California aren’t always the flashy tourist spots — they’re the places that still feel connected to the ocean and to the people who’ve been there for generations.

The mornings would start slow with coffee and beach walks. Some of my favorite coffee spots are The Petrol Club in San Clemente, JC Beans Coffee House in Dana Point, and Jedidiah Coffee in Laguna Beach. Each one has its own atmosphere and feels tied to the local community.

For surf and beach days, we’d definitely spend time at San Onofre State Beach and Trestles Beach. Those spots represent such an important part of Southern California surf culture, and there’s something timeless about spending an entire day there with friends, coolers, boards, and nowhere else to be.

There would absolutely be a fishing day too. I grew up around the harbor and being on the water is such a huge part of the culture here. Whether we were offshore chasing tuna and yellowtail or just spending the day cruising the coastline, I think some of the best conversations and memories happen on boats. There’s something about being out on the ocean that slows everything down and puts life into perspective.

I’d also want to do a quick trip over to Santa Catalina Island. Catalina feels like stepping back into old California — vintage hotels, golf carts, old harbors, diving history, fishing culture, and that classic island atmosphere you don’t really find many places anymore. Even just walking around Avalon with a drink after a day on the water feels special.

Food would be a huge part of the trip. Truly Pizza is a must and probably one of my favorite restaurants in the area right now. In Dana Point, we’d also go to Coastal Kitchen and Craft House, and of course Turk’s Dana Wharf because it’s one of those legendary harbor spots that feels untouched in the best way possible.

For Laguna Beach, I’d do a full beach day followed by dinner at Ahba, drinks at The Rooftop Lounge at La Casa del Camino, then end the night listening to music at Marine Room Tavern. Laguna has such a unique energy because it blends old California beach culture with art, music, and history.

In San Clemente, one of my favorite things to do is simply walk Del Mar down toward the pier around sunset. It’s one of the few coastal towns left that still feels laid back and rooted in its surf heritage. For dinner, we’d probably go to The Vine Restaurant & Bar or South of Nick’s.

Honestly, the best moments usually aren’t overplanned. They’re the simple ones — sitting around after a beach day, being on the docks at sunset, hearing live music coming out of an old bar, or watching boats come into the harbor at golden hour. That’s the side of California I think people remember forever, and it’s a huge part of what inspires Vintage Yacht Club creatively.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A huge part of Vintage Yacht Club exists because of my family. The business started from a conversation between my sisters, and I, but the deeper inspiration really comes from our grandmother and the antique store she once owned. Growing up around antiques taught us to appreciate craftsmanship, history, and the idea that objects can carry stories and memories with them. That mindset became the foundation for everything we do today.

I’d also give a lot of credit to the Dana Point community and the harbor culture here. Hearing stories about the local Dana Point history, from when the harbor was first built to long before it was even here when people were first starting to surf Killer Dana. So much of the brand was shaped by growing up around marinas, fishermen, surfers, boat builders, captains, and local business owners who genuinely cared about preserving the character of the harbor. There’s a strong sense of nostalgia and community in coastal towns like Dana Point, and we’ve always wanted Vintage Yacht Club to reflect that feeling.

Beyond that, I think a lot of inspiration comes from older generations in general — people who believed in quality over quantity and took pride in building things that lasted. Whether it’s a handcrafted boat, a weathered leather chair, an old photograph, or a perfectly worn-in sweatshirt, there’s beauty in things that age well and tell a story over time.

I’m grateful for everyone who has supported us along the way, especially the customers who choose to shop small and support local businesses. Every person who walks into the store, shares our work, or connects with the brand helps keep that spirit alive.

Website: https://Vintageyachtclub.com

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