S7 Ep7 LUCKY SWEATER: Carley Lake, co-founder of a slow fashion trading community app - on why community and circularity is at the center of it all.

Pre-Loved Podcast with Emily Stochl

Pre-Loved Podcast is a weekly vintage fashion interview show, with guests you’ll want to go thrifting with! For more Pre-Loved Podcast, subscribe to our Patreon!

Today’s show is with Carley Lake, the co-founder of Lucky Sweater. Carely first discovered thrifting when her dad introduced her to the stores on Melrose Ave. in LA, back when she was at the peak of her fast fashion addiction in high school. On this episode, we’ll chat through Carley’s whole journey that led to Lucky Sweater – how she started a sustainable fashion site called Thoughtful Flamingo, and her experience on the groundfloor at Uber where she co-launched Uber’s women safety program and Community Guidelines.

But what led Carley to the Lucky Sweater idea? She missed finding community through clothing! Lucky Sweater is a community app that allows users to connect and trade clothing with like-minded communities. Lucky Sweater’s first community trading space was focused on slow and sustainable fashion brands, and the team recently launched a community for makers to trade handmade clothing, accessories, and supplies.

We chat about all this and more on today’s episode, so let’s just dive right in!

DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:

• [3:27] Growing up during peak “mall culture” in Los Angeles.
• [6:11] How Carley’s dad exposed her to Melrose Ave. thrifting.
• [12:23] Carley’s entry into tech as one of the first 500 employees at Uber, working on the launch team for Uber Eats and co-launching Uber’s Community Guidelines.
• [14:05] Starting her blog, Thoughtful Flamingo, and how the conversations she had inspired Lucky Sweater.
• [15:23] Early clothing trading communities on Instagram and Reddit.
• [22:38] Lucky Sweater’s focus on slow trading to not contribute to overconsumption and “haul culture” with secondhand.
• [23:08] Carely’s learnings from being a first time founder and entrepreneur.
• [29:37] How trading lowers the barrier to entry on slow fashion.
• [35:49] The launch of a me-made trading community on Lucky Sweater where you can swap handmade clothing, accessories, and supplies.

EPISODE MENTIONS:

• Join Lucky Sweater (with my invite code!)
• @lucky.sweater
• @thoughtfulflamingo
• Carley’s blog, Thoughtful Flamingo
• Wasteland
• My vintage shop guide!
• Sustainable Fashion Forum
• Elizabeth Suzann
• Ace & Jig
• @marielle.elizabeth
• @selltradeplus
• @selltradeslowfashion
• The trouble with secondhand becoming like fast fashion - Vogue Business
• Bubble: build a web app without code
• The Lucky Sweater brands list
• Babaa
• Ilana Kohn
• Beaton Linen
• State the Label
• Fashion Brand Company
• Become a Lucky Sweater ambassador / influencer
• Kate at @readwritethrift
• Kate of Read Write Thrift on Pre-Loved Podcast
• Lydia at @styleisstyle
• Dawn from @dressing_dawn
• Episode Vintage
• Zipper Vintage
• Marbles Vintage
• Antique Sugar vintage in Phoenix
• The Fine Art of Design in Palm Springs
• @sewover50
• Nathaneal - knitting on TikTok
• @willienillieknits
• Charlotte Rose Studio
• Charlotte’s Paloma dress story
• @ladyefron
• @sallydarrgriffin

LET’S CONNECT:

• 📸Instagram: @emilymstochl
• 🐦Twitter: @emilymstochl
• 🎥TikTok: @emilymstochl
• 📧 Substack: https://prelovedpod.substack.com/
• 🎧Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/prelovedpod

SPECIAL THANKS:

A special thanks goes out to my Patron Insiders – your support makes Pre-Loved Podcast possible!

• Patty Weber
• Beverley Docherty of Wolfe Pack Vintage
• Danny of Galaxy Live
• Kathy Brand
• Lucero Buendia
• Tricia Zelazny
• Leslie V.
• Lisa of Queenie & Pearl
• Trudy