Student vendors sell reworked threads at Fair

Over 60 arts and crafts vendors will line the Upper and Lower quads at Spring Fair, with goods ranging from sterling silver jewelry to used books. Some craftsmen trek to town from other states, while others operate out of Baltimore. One new group is based right here at Hopkins.

"Cheap Thrills," a clothing and accessories booth founded by four Hopkins undergraduates, will be selling re-worked vintage items, hand-sewn clothing, and original purses and jewelry.

Juniors Christina Tung and Popi Benisch were studying abroad in England when they got the idea to create their own fashions.

"We were walking around at a flea market in London and we thought, 'We can do this!'" said Tung.

The two began talking to other interested friends, and soon senior Ali Fenwick and junior Mira Cho stepped on-board. The group began making items for friends, practicing their skills and refining their techniques. When Tung sold some of her resewn t-shirt creations to Some Odd Rubies, a New York clothing shop co-owned by Summer Phoenix, she realized the potential of reworked vintage threads. The group decided that Spring Fair would be a perfect venue to get their first experience of true entrepeneurship.

"It was in the back of our minds since last Spring Fair," said Tung.

The four friends have spent all semester designing and sewing their clothes and accessories, which Tung describes as "Urban Outfitters-style." Each group member has her own area of expertise.

Tung and Fenwick resew vintage threads to make form-fitting t-shirts, halter-tops and skirts, Cho is the clutch purse expert, and Benisch makes hand-embroidered cuff bracelets.

"We're all really crafty," said Tung. "People always make fun of us because we're such homemakers."

While each does work on her own, they sometimes get together to sew and create, bouncing ideas off each other and getting input from other friends.

"It's been a lot of fun being able to create stuff we can use and wear," said Tung. "For Mira and I [...], our sewing has improved ten-fold [...] It's actually been really therapeutic to sit and hand sew."

Although the group didn't qualify for the student-group booth rate, they were able to put down the $200 vender fee to secure a booth right in front of the Breezeway.While they hope to make a small profit, they want to keep prices cheap for students.

"It's kind of difficult [...] because sometimes you fall in love with something you make [...] and have spent a lot of time and effort on," said Tung. "But we're trying to keep everything reasonably priced."

None of the items will be priced over $50. Tung's "batman tee" will sell for $10, Cho's "green circle mini" will go for $15, Fenwick's "scarf tank" will be priced at $30, and Benisch's famous cuff bracelets will sell for $20. Although most of the items are for women, a few men's and unisex clothes and accessories will be sold; Fenwick's "funky ties" are priced at $5, and one-of-a-kind button pins will go for $1.

"We hope to make a little profit, [but] it's more about the experience of an entrepeneureal business venture," said Tung. "We'll learn a lot about consumerism. If we can at least break even, we'll all be really happy."

The group plans to continue creating, and hopes to have another booth at next year's Fair.

"I hope it will be a fun way to meet people," said Tung. "I just think it would be really cool to see someone I don't know wearing a skirt or necklace that I made."