Meet Abigail Spong

Today we’d like to introduce you to Abigail Spong.

Abigail, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved fashion – vintage and thrifted fashion, more specifically. Growing up, it seemed as if every other weekend I’d tag along with my mom and grandma to our local thrift stores, flea markets, and estate sales. As they gravitated toward the vintage homeware, I was always drawn to the unique and over the top vintage clothing. Throughout middle school and high school, this love flourished as I almost exclusively shopped at my local thrift stores and Goodwills. In fact, almost every dress I wore to my Homecomings and Proms were vintage. The thought of turning this passion into a side hustle didn’t come until enduring the lowest point of my life thus far. My freshman year of college, I was hospitalized and placed on suicide watch for nearly a week. I had ignored the severity of my depression and anxiety for a long time and just let it boil over. It was no walk in the park, but after receiving the help I so direly needed, I knew I needed to integrate something in my life that made me happy. Shortly after, Valley Girls was born. Valley Girls was an online and Instagram based boutique that featured my own collection of vintage fashion. After a year of photo shoots, pop-up shops around Phoenix, and too many sales to count, Valley Girls is being reborn into Valley + Co. – a vintage and found boutique for women, men and home, dedicated to sustainable fashion and consciously sourced independent brands. My goal for the company is to provide affordable and size-inclusive vintage fashion to Phoenix, all while placing an emphasis on sustainability and fast fashion education.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been anything BUT a smooth road! Despite the obvious struggles of overcoming my depression and anxiety disorder on a day to day basis, being a student, retail manager, and small business owner brings on a whole new level of stress and often doubt. There is no easy way to be a one-man-band, every day presents itself with a new struggle. Whether that’s juggling time, finances and a lot of time, keeping up with your seemingly more successful peers. However, the outcome is more than rewarding. Nothing makes me happier than curating my vintage prized possessions and finding them a new, loving home.

Valley + Co, formerly Valley Girls – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Valley + Co (launching April 2019), formerly Valley Girls, is a collective of carefully curated vintage and sustainable goods. We now specialize in vintage fashion for men and women, vintage homeware, and soon to come, sustainable independent brands who produce intentional products. I am most proud of becoming an inclusive brand and catering to any and all body types. I think vintage sometimes gets a bad rap for not being inclusive or affordable, but Valley + Co. is here to change that. I think that that’s what sets us apart.

Is there a specific memory from when you were younger that you really miss?
One of my favorite memories from my childhood was rummaging through my grandma’s suitcases full of jewelry that were passed down from her mom. The little suitcases or boxes were often lined by vintage silk or floral fabrics and held hundreds of intricate clip-on earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and brooches. I would organize the earrings together, but not without trying every single pair on first. I would also attach stories to each gem, like was my great grandmother wearing these to church or dinner? I think that’s what’s so fascinating and captivating about vintage, each item has an important story to tell.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://valleygirlsshop.com/
• Phone: 6023778047
• Email: shopvalleygirls@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shop.valleygirls/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/valleygirlsshop

Image Credit:
Bailey Quinn Turner, Abigail Spong

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