Meet Vintage Think

Tell us a bit about you and your shop

We are a young couple – Kristaps is 25 years old and Elina is 24. We both still work our full time day jobs but we always knew that this is not the way it should be - to go to work and spend so much time of your life  with what you do just to make other people rich.We opened our shop ''Vintage Think'' about two months ago because we wanted to start something on our own and there wasn`t two thoughts about what it should be because we both  appreciate heritage of past a lot and we also think that  it`s a very obvious way to recycle –  it is very important to us.

How did you choose your shop name?

Initially 'Vintage Think'  was meant to be 'Think Vintage'. After I drew the banner for our shop it turned out that the name 'Think Vintage' was already taken (although I checked before and there wasn't a shop with that name at the time). We decided to just change the sequence of words and keep our existing banner because we love it a lot. But why 'Think Vintage'? We think that it is a very concise name for a shop and that it describes lifestyle that includes love of old things with their own story and history very well. Its also like manifest to think more about our past.

Where else can we find you?

Because we are fairly new at the moment we are only on Etsy.

Where did you get your love of vintage from?

The love of vintage goes hand in hand with our love to recycling and green lifestyle. People talk a lot about receycling and sorting/reducing waste – so why should we let things that could still be used go to waste? We mostly sell things from the soviet era - here in Latvia people don`t appreciate them so we save these things from being thrown away and give them another chance.

But love of vintage – I don't exactly know why. We live in a small period house and almost all of our furniture is vintage, restored by us. We also have vintage kitchenware,decor and clothes –  vintage things just give more meaning and joy to us.

Do you have a vintage obsession, for instance, I am totally addicted to vintage glasses, I have way too many?

It definitely has to be furniture. We find old and shabby vintage furniture and give them new life with fresh paint and textiles. We can't imagine our life in a new apartment filled with  modern furniture.

What’s the strangest item you have ever found?

I don`t have anything specific to tell you about but flea markets are just filled with strange things.

What is your favourite item in your shop?

We have this old mechanical clock JANTAR in light blue. It's placed in our living room until  somebody buys it and it fits in there so well. It also makes a very restful tic-tac sound.

Tell us what you love about your favourite era?

Our favourite era is 70s and 80s from Soviet time. Every single design, print and detail was very well-considered. There wasn't any any flashiness at all – everything was simple and tasteful.

What advice would you give to people just starting out?

The only thing you should do is not to be afraid to start. And after you start everything goes it`s own way

Is there anything you wished you had done differently?

No – we are happy with the way things are now.

If you could learn something new what would it be and why?

We really want to learn to dance 60s dance moves – twist, swing, boog-a-loo, jerk and such  from this decade. It would be so much fun.

Where is your most favourite place on Earth?

Our small house where we live. The building is very old and it has such a perfect aura. We have lived in a lot of places but none of them can be compared with this house. We can really call this place home and see ourselves in the same place in future.

I’m a big foodie fan, what is your dream meal?

It would be something fresh and organic. A lot of local latvian vegetables and fruit.

Once upon a time……

Once upon a time everyone was more ceative. Because none of the technology that does the thinking for you was invented. So people had to figure things out using their own mind, imagination and creativity.

What question do wish I had asked and what would you answer be?

Can't think of any. We are quite happy with yours! Thank You!