Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Tavin.
Erin, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was in the theater for a good chunk of my life as an actress and fell in love with the clothing and the time period on each and every job – that is really how I learned about the history of clothing in a very hands on way (I was wearing the clothing in the theater much of the time as an actor in).
When I came out from New York city to LA, at some point I started selling vintage clothing at the Melrose trading post and while there developed a pretty big following of models actresses and musicians and at the same time I was styling and costuming at that point and traveling as much as I could for my own personal happiness and exploration.
I remember walking around Montmartre in Paris- in and out of all those lovely little shops they had there at that time and very clearly thinking – I’m going to do this – open a little shop with this special vibe / this great artistic feeling I was getting from those shops- it was very a special very intimate feeling at that time very bohemian it was before lots of money came in and changed the feeling.
Not long after that, I was driving home on Echo Park Ave and there was a very little sign in the window for lease of a small shop and somehow by that night I had my first shop! -it was my first time and it a wonderful creative stressful intense but totally artistic time – getting that space ready and my husband building everything in it and then filling it with much of my own collection I’d been holding onto for myself all those years! After that, I began to curate the shop and understand who I was selling to and what was wanted and needed – I always had a huge connection to the 60’s and have seeped myself in literature and photos from that period and that really began to shine though for me.
I wanted the shop to feel like a community vibe -where woman could hang and talk and exchange ideas -books thoughts- yoga teachers- feelings etc. whatever they felt like – and in many ways that is what it has become – a place where the street outside doesn’t exist and one can just lose oneself for a bit even just for a few moments – like I did in Paris at that time.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, of course it has not been smooth, is anything ever really smooth that’s hard to do? If I were to do it all over again I would have gone to business school first – it’s tough to be a very creative person and also get the whole other money/biz side right as well- it was always like’ just jump into the fire’ and learn that way – just go for it !! dive in and sometimes it’s a win and other times it’s a loss.
There are times I have felt wow we really made it now! oh can I rest now? and then just as fast it feels like it all just goes away- poof! – so the very nature of retail is just very up and down like that and that has def taken getting used to for sure for me and also to not take that personally! Its def a lifestyle choice this business.
The amazing clientele we built seems like it has gone pretty smooth and uphill the whole way – it seems like we have what many woman are wanting and that has been a GREAT feeling for me – but it’s very very important to keep that going moving and changing all the time – keep looking and keep searching for what our woman our wanting – changing things up all the time is so so KEY – that’s the reason we get so much repeat biz- because we are constantly moving pieces and changing it all up -and I am very personally involved that’s a big factor at TAVIN.
IT all requires endless staying on top of Everything – -oh no one’s wearing that anymore? so move on! what are they wearing this spring? OK I’m going to hunt for that now – so it’s a constant AND I MEAN CONSTANT hunt and trusting my taste and my intuition is very important – so it’s like growing with the woman and what beauty to these women and also comfort to these woman means and that changes all the time so it’s really staying in tune with our customers -and that is something I have been blessed with being good at that -! let’s call it instinct.
Instincts as best as I can – and of course not burring out in the process so for me leaving town getting away unplugging some allows me to get reinvigorated and then go back with a fiercest that I must have to keep this shop running successfully -and for me to feel happy as well
My husband now takes care of so much of the back end of things so we’ve had to navigate a work relationship.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Tavin Boutique – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We are vintage bohemian eclectic lifestyle shop specializing in clothing to suit the modern Gypset.
We have a very strong collection of Victorian and sixties and seventies pieces but also, we carry very comfortable beautiful clothes to wear in one’s everyday life.
We carry clothing to be worn again and again- to feel comfortable in and beautiful and easy.
We are most known for our bohemian aesthetic and also for covering a very strong range of periods.
We are known, I would say for having very good taste.
What sets us apart from others is really the absolute individuality of the boutique- the clothing chosen and the personal love and care that is brought to each customer – to really help woman find their style – what feels right to them.
People have come to rely on my fashion input and I have been able to bring all my styling skills to the table. It definitely is extra work but it’s really about making woman happy and feel just cool and great.
Shopping at TAVIN can be a very personal experience – and I really wanted it to be that it’s so hard in a big city to just find quiet and beauty and stillness.
Our voice our vision shall I say? It is very distinct and people who know the shop really know this to be true. I’m not interested in just having a non-distinct voice at all I want our vision to be very very clear.
As a company, I am most proud of how my husband and I have grown this in a totally grass roots way!!! Not with a ton of money to start or backers etc… just pure hard driven WORK creativity and love- LOTS OF LOVE.
And we try very hard to hire people who really feel this as well who can really make it more than a job but something that they really can vibe with and feel good about and just get right in there and be a part of it.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Well right now my husband is building a caravan that we have designed after photos we’ve collected for years from the 60s and 70s many from the great photo books called HOMEWORK, it is going to be another shop – but out first on wheels!
We are going to take to place like Ojai Malibu and music festivals and land it in some places for short stints.
It is made out of all wood and we will add stain glass and other cool touches and try to make it look as 60s/70s cabin like as we can circa Big Sur and Marin.
We will have to really pare down what we can sell out of it space wise so that’s going to be a real adjustment and a cool lesson in simplicity too!
I’m very excited about it as its on our own terms so I am thrilled to see where it takes us too!
I am also looking for a small space in Ojai as I have been doing a pop up there for a year now at a shop called Dekor and Its been doing so great there – so it’s kind of a no brainer opening a shop there except that its 2 hours away -so looking for that to happen with the right timing but very very soon!
I am really looking to grow in the next year with the shop as I’m not interested in everything just staying the same.
People know who we are now and TAVIN has a pretty big reaching reputation so looking forward to expanding on that now and really making some growth happen this next year!
Pricing:
- Outside sale rack 30-100 dollars
- Inside shop ranges from 48 dollars 160 -350 dollars generally big range
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tavinboutique.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/tavinboutique/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TavinShop
- Phone: 213 482 5832
- Email: [email protected]
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TavinShop, http://www.pinterest.com/lifebytavin/, http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifebytavin/sets
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
