Check Out Moana Ferry’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Moana Ferry.

Moana, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Wow, it’s crazy to think that I started Moana Vintage four years ago! It’ll be five years next April. For as long as I could remember, I always had a difficult time believing in myself but soon after my journey of self-healing, I finally started to believe in myself and took the leap! I told myself, “If other people can start their own business, then why can’t I?!” So one morning I jumped out of bed and created an Instagram for my store. I told myself to not overthink it (like I normally do) and just go for it so I did. I started taking photographs with clothing from my closet that day, and that’s how Moana Vintage started! At first, it was a side hustle and a way for me to express myself creatively while still working a full-time job as a creative director for a fast fashion brand but when the pandemic hit, I decided to pursue it as my full-time job, and I’ve continued the journey of running my own store ever since.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road for me but I think the biggest challenge has been to stay consistent and keep going when times get hard. It can be easy to feel discouraged when your engagement is low or sales are slow so it’s a matter of being able to keep pushing through and not giving up. This is a bit personal, but I’m sure other artists and creatives can relate that sometimes the biggest struggle when running your own business can be your own mental health. 2023 was personally the most difficult year of my life so what was most challenging for me was trying to continue the work when I wasn’t feeling my best. When there’s no one pushing you to keep going but yourself, it takes a lot of discipline and commitment, but the ups and downs have made me so much stronger. Even when I’ve been at my low points, I know that I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else but running my own business because it’s what I love. It’s actually been a beautiful journey for me to see my growth as a person directly affect the growth in my business. They really do go hand in hand, or at least that’s what I’ve experienced. To me, your creativity and art is sharing a part of your soul with others. It’s very much a part of you, and the love you put into it is a reflection of the purest and most vulnerable parts of your soul that you are giving to others to experience as well.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I hand-select and uniquely curate quality vintage clothing with a modern yet eclectic interpretation and perspective. I’ve also started to design in-house clothing that are handmade locally and made with deadstock fabrics. I’m most proud of coming up with a vision bringing it to life and creating beautiful timeless clothing for others to enjoy and experience. I think what sets me apart is a continued journey trying to stay true to my own vision and point of view. I think the key for me is to always source and create pieces that I personally would love to wear myself or that I feel inspired by and that continues to be the compass that guides me.

Any big plans?
I’ve always dreamt of opening a brick-and-mortar store; selling vintage clothing and my in-house designs but also modern clothing brands that I love, art, home decor, accessories, and more. I also have always loved to travel and learning about different cultures, so I’ve also dreamt of finding unique and one-of-a-kind pieces during my travels and selling them in my store as well. My future plans are to bring this vision to life and create a space that feels true to me and the things I believe are beautiful and worth appreciating. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always listened to my heart, and it’s always led me in the right direction, so I’m looking forward to doing that more to see where it takes me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.moanavintage.com
• Instagram: @shopmoanavintage

Image Credits
James Mankoff (photos in Malibu wearing my in-house designed deadstock silk plaid dress called the Jemma Dress) and Albany Katz (photos of me in my booth at Finding’s Market in Ventura)