S9 Ep36 COSTURA: Stef Garcia, Y2K vintage dealer - on Whatnot livestreams, building community connections, and wholesale buyouts of Y2K deadstock designer vintage.

S9 Ep36 COSTURA: Stef Garcia, Y2K vintage dealer - on Whatnot livestreams, building community connections, and wholesale buyouts of Y2K deadstock designer vintage.

Author: Emily Stochl November 17, 2025 Duration: 54:56

On today's show, we're chatting with Stef, the founder of Costura, a Y2K vintage fashion business that does serious volume on Whatnot. Stef started reselling full-time after losing her job during the pandemic, and for the last three and a half years, she's been hosting live auctions on the livestream platform, Whatnot – sometimes she even goes live daily. 

In this episode, she shares how she's built a loyal community of cool people who love early 2000s fashion, plus her best tips for livestream sales.

Earlier this year, Stef teamed up with a few business partners to make her biggest buyout yet, and then spent three and half months in Los Angeles, continuously going live until she sold the lots – it's a wild story and she's always on the move between Miami and LA hunting down one-of-a-kind Y2K treasures. I'll let her share the scoop on how she does it.

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

DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:

  • [4:57] How Stef started selling vintage after getting laid off from her job in television production.
  • [6:27] Her first time visiting a rag house.
  • [11:32] Things really clicked when Stef got on Whatnot
  • [15:09] Building an audience of Whatnot regulars: resellers, collectors, and everyday shoppers
  • [17:15] Stef's biggest buyout yet: 1,000 pieces of Y2K deadstock
  • [21:41] How to have a successful vintage live show
  • [33:34] Living and selling vintage between Miami and Los Angeles
  • [37:13] How Stef approaches social media, showing up on TikTok and Instagram
  • [41:19] The vintage in her personal collection that she will never sell
  • [46:05] Her holy grail find is a Jean Paul Gaultier piece from the bins

EPISODE MENTIONS: 

LET'S CONNECT: 

SPECIAL THANKS: 

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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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