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

Hi Shamia, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Since a very young age, I have been creative and have always wanted to pursue a creative career. I knew while studying fashion merchandising that I wanted to start a business in that field and be my own boss. Being able to express my creative side is fulfilling and allows me to push the boundaries in ways that are not as applicable in other industries.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets Pretty Vintage apart from others is that we offer repurposed vintage designer jewelry as well as our own unique collections from time to time. We are a female and brown owned business. We not only care about the pieces we offer but what our customers want to see next, and offering them at an affordable price. We also are taking steps at being as sustainable as possible which includes offering a vegan suede jewelry pouch with every purchase.

It was not easy starting a small business but taking the first step is what it is all about. Once you get over that hump and start finding out what your customers are looking for, you will see small successes.

What we are excited about is our upcoming collections and what we have in store for the holidays. We are looking into different charities and non profits that we are passionate about to give back to this season.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Although we are based in the Inland Empire, our inspiration comes from the heart of Los Angeles. We love seeing what the locals are rocking around the laid back Venice Beach, fashionable Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood, and the more casual and the more casual Mid City area.

The top spots to eat and drink would definitely be around Abbot Kinney in Venice. ChaCha Matcha offers different matcha drinks which we love and there are plenty of casual dining. For the best brunch, look around Santa Monica. Bottomless for us! If you want a dinner with a view, don’t miss Catch LA or Margot. For casual vegan food, the best has to be Tocaya. It taste like the real deal!

The Venice Beach boardwalk has some of our favorite childhood memories while Melrose Avenue has the best shopping.

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 definitely need to shoutout my closest friends and family that were always supportive when finding out I was starting a small business. Whether it was words of encouragement, sharing on social media, or making a purchase, they have been there since the beginning.

Website: https://prettyvintagela.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prettyvintagela/

Image Credits
Aaliyah Hussain

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.