Ohio State alum helps build Columbus community through vintage clothing shop

Tayla Davis’ Christian religion and love of vogue led her to open Naz Thrift, a classic clothes enterprise.

Davis, a 2019 Ohio State graduate, stated she has thrifted her complete life and started promoting her finds at a number of pop-up outlets in 2020 earlier than opening Naz Thrift in October. She stated she opened a everlasting location at 1617 W. fifth Ave. and is trying ahead to constructing her enterprise and rising a group.

“Having that area to the place I can construct relationships with the group as a result of that basically is what I like to do,” Davis stated. “If I’m at a pop-up and say it’s not a busy pop-up, and I don’t actually get to speak with anybody, to me that’s sort of like transactional and never relational. With the shop, I’m simply actually enthusiastic about constructing a group there for Naz Thrift.”

When pondering of a enterprise title, Davis stated she realized in biblical instances Nazareth was a spot not identified for good, regardless that Jesus grew up there. Impressed, Davis observed a correlation with how some view secondhand clothes shops.

“At first I used to be like, that’s actually cool, and that basically aligns with like used clothes as a result of some folks suppose like used clothes is gross, like thrift shops don’t have something good,” Davis stated. “However then I used to be discovering the hidden gems.”

Naz Thrift’s mission is to deliver new life to clothes, Columbus residents and the streets. Davis stated she does this by volunteering and donating 10 % of Naz Thrift’s earnings to the Columbus Dream Middle — a nonprofit group pushed to offer low-income, homeless and underserved folks.

“That’s simply one thing that’s heavy on my half and one thing that I actually wish to proceed to pour into,” Davis stated.

Not solely does Naz Thrift have a big selection of classic gadgets, Arika Wadsworth, operations coordinator of Naz Thrift, stated the shop area will permit them to host DIY Denim lessons too.

“We arrange a complete class the place folks can destress, paint and put patches on their previous denim and sort of refresh its look,” Wadsworth stated. “That’s a brand new factor too that we’re actually making an attempt to faucet into the Ohio State group with as a result of it’s such a enjoyable factor for recreation day and simply typically.”

Davis stated the shop additionally began Girl Up, a pop-up market designed to encourage women-owned small companies whereas additionally pouring into the group, this yr.

“We had 5 women-owned small companies there, and it was a very cool expertise,” Davis stated.

Davis stated a number of the earnings from the primary two Girl Up pop-up markets had been donated to Freedom a la Cart Cafe and Out of Darkness Columbus — organizations that assist survivors of intercourse trafficking.

Wadsworth stated a shared curiosity in thrifting allowed her and Davis to satisfy and strengthen their friendship inside the previous couple of years since assembly at Ohio State.

Wadsworth stated she was excited and needed to assist Davis in any approach she might after studying Davis needed to begin her enterprise.

“It began like that simply completely as associates,” Wadsworth stated. “Then I began to be like, ‘Hey, I do know that you simply talked about you wish to do a photograph shoot, like if you’d like a mannequin, I’ll do it. I’ll simply come and hang around with you.’”

Wadsworth stated her involvement within the enterprise elevated over time and dealing with Davis within the early levels taught and enabled her to make choices as operations coordinator.

“I handle all the pieces for Naz Thrift, from merely calendar and electronic mail all the best way to helping with occasions, concepting, like virtually something you may consider, I’ve my hand on it, and my finger on the heartbeat there simply because I’ve been with Tayla from the start of Naz Thrift,” Wadsworth stated.

Wadswasorth stated Davis’ religion and dedication to assist Columbus has benefited the group as an entire.

“She’s actually enthusiastic about increase Columbus, making it a spot the place persons are welcome, the place persons are liked,” Wadsworth stated. “She’s gotten me to truly come into the Dream Middle, and I’ve gone along with her to volunteer to do meals for homeless folks, and I’ve gone to place some fingers on work into town, and it’s actually rewarding and it’s group constructing.”

Davis stated sooner or later, she has plans to develop Naz Thrift with packages to assist with issues, like employment and counseling, for the Columbus group.

Extra data on retailer hours, packages and clothes gadgets could be discovered on Naz Thrift’s Fb, Instagram or web site.