S9 Ep35 CIRCLE OF FRIENDS: Hilliary Bianca Salamanca - on on building community through circularity and restoring a Brooklyn townhouse with vintage finds.

S9 Ep35 CIRCLE OF FRIENDS: Hilliary Bianca Salamanca - on on building community through circularity and restoring a Brooklyn townhouse with vintage finds.

Author: Emily Stochl November 10, 2025 Duration: 57:56

On today's show, we're chatting with Hilliary—a vintage collector and event producer who's building community at the intersection of sustainability and style.

Hilliary is the founder of Circle of Friends, where she hosts The Stoop Series—a live interview series that's making circular fashion accessible and inspiring. With Circle of Friends, she's using her platform to elevate the voices of vintage dealers, sustainable brands, and circular economy innovators, showing people why secondhand should always be the first choice.

And if you're a collector yourself, you're going to love this conversation.

In this episode, Hilliary shares her journey with circular fashion – how she fell in love with vintage markets while studying abroad in Florence, to her growing silver collection of hosting and homewares. Plus, how she's restoring a 1899 Brooklyn townhouse entirely with vintage and secondhand finds.

Oh yeah – and we talk Brimfield, she's a Brimfield fanatic, just like me. What I love about Hilliary's approach is that she's building a vintage-filled life through relationships and community – she's built connections with vendors at markets like Brimfield who remember her, save pieces for her, and have become genuine friends. Very within the ethos of Circle of Friends.

This is a really fun one – let's dive right in!

DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:

  • [4:20] Hilliary grew up a fashion-lover, and her first big purchase was saving up to buy a Kate Spade backpack.
  • [7:44] Her journey into a sustainable fashion career.
  • [13:14] Starting "Something Borrowed Never New" - her original Substack focused on re-use during wedding season
  • [17:08] Why she started Circle of Friends  and The Stoop Series
  • [20:37] Conversations that have expanded her understanding of circularity - from fashion to food to home
  • [26:36] Restoring a 1899 Brooklyn townhouse entirely with vintage and secondhand finds. 
  • [35:07] Her go-to Brimfield fields and vendors
  • [42:10] How she's building and using her vintage silver collection for hosting
  • [48:31] Learning upholstery to restore vintage furniture herself

EPISODE MENTIONS: 

LET'S CONNECT: 

SPECIAL THANKS: 

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

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Every week, Emily Stochl invites you into a conversation that goes far beyond the clothing rack. Pre-Loved Podcast with Emily Stochl is built on the idea that every second-hand garment has a past, and that exploring those histories makes our present style more meaningful. Rather than just offering shopping tips, each episode feels like sitting down with a fascinating friend who shares your passion for vintage, digging into the many layers of what it means to wear pre-owned fashion. You’ll hear from a diverse range of guests-from collectors and stylists to entrepreneurs and historians-as they explore not only personal style but also the practicalities of running a resale business, the complexities of the global second-hand market, and the environmental ethos behind choosing used over new. The heart of this podcast lives in those incredible stories: the serendipitous flea market find, the garment that carries a decade of memories, or the simple, powerful act of giving a piece a new life. Emily guides these discussions with genuine curiosity, making each topic accessible whether you're a seasoned thrifter or just curious about sustainable fashion. It’s a thoughtful, engaging look at how what we wear connects to culture, art, beauty, and the kind of mindful consumption that can reshape an industry. Tune in for a fresh perspective that celebrates the character, sustainability, and deep personal connection found in pre-loved fashion.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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