Meet Ashleigh Morrissey | Vintage Curator & Shop Owner

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

Hi Ashleigh, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Ultimately I chose a creative career path because it makes me happy. If I have to show up for and work hard at something every day then it had to be a career I felt aligned with who I am at my core.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I’m Ok, You’re Ok Vintage is truly a labor of love. I spend countless hours mindfully curating a selection of vintage offerings that I truly love and want to share with the world. Whether I am sourcing, mending, photographing or handling any of the menial business tasks- Ok Ok is run with intention and care. I feel like that in itself sets me apart. I truly believe that love and intention is reflective in peoples work, no matter what that work may be. You can see and feel the heart put into it.

My passion for vintage stems from a love and respect for this planet. I think choosing to breathe life back into something previously discarded is a beautiful thing, whether or not someone is being mindful of the chain reaction that choice has. Vintage offers individuality that something made today will never, each piece has its own story and is representative of time when life was much different. Put simply, they just don’t make things like they used to.

Vintage has been a love of mine for as long as I can remember but I never really considered that I could turn that passion into a career. As it turns out, you can. Three years ago I started I’m Ok, You’re Ok Vintage with a whole lot of dreams and a whole lot of love. Over time I’ve navigated the ups and downs of building a small business and at the end of the day I would say it’s worth all challenging days. Being able to work hard at something you really stand behind is the most fulfilling experience and I would never trade it.
I would say the biggest lesson I have learned along the way is to do what makes you happy, you’ll never regret it down the road.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m very fortunate to live a block away from my best friend, she’s been by my side for fifteen years. If we’re having breakfast it’s probably at Colossus, they have an amazing selection of baked goods and in my opinion the best Matcha in town. If we’re really hungry we like to hit Coffee Cup and have a few too many cups of coffee while splitting a soyrizo scramble and some pancakes. Long Beach holds a lot of magic and theres no better way to see it than riding my pair of 1974 mopeds to the peninsula to bask in the sunshine and have a swim. To make sure we’re stocked up for a bay day, we will probably stop at Olives for some sandwiches and snacks to bring with. Daisy will definitely get an iced tea.
Later we would stop by the Long Beach Antique Mall, because after all it is my happy place. So much to see and love there. Theres a cute little book shop next door also, called Planet Books.
I have so many spots for dinner in town that I love to share visitors. If you’re in the mood for sushi, @Sushi. If you want some Thai food, Manaow (definitely order the Southern Style Curry Noodles). If you want a burger and a chance to see the real Long Beach, check out Hamburgers Nice at Good Time on a Friday night. Yes, it’s ok to get a second burger- they are just that good.
For drinks Daisy and I are probably going to The Grasshopper, Baby Gee’s or Black. Daisy will definitely get a tequila + soda.
Anywhere you go in this town you’ll be met with smiles and a good time, that is what makes living here so special.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m Ok, You’re Ok Vintage wouldn’t exist without the love and support I’ve received from the Long Beach community. The sense of community in this town is strong and choosing to start my small business here was one of the best decisions I’ve made in business thus far. I’ve been able to meet a lot of amazing, like minded people in so many different industries because of the way this city shows up for its people. It is truly such a beautiful thing to witness and especially to be a part of. Above all else, I would like to give a shout out to my circle of family and friends. They have been there by my side since day 1 and believed in my dreams even when I doubted them.

Website: www.okokvintage.com

Instagram: @ok.ok.vintage