Spotlight On: Emily Casabian and Rogue Wave Vintage

Tanner RushNovember 1, 2023

0 602 3 minutes read

Spotlight On: Rogue Wave Vintage

As part of our new series, we are interviewing people of interest in the area who are having a positive impact on our community.

This time, we reached out to Emily Casabian, owner and operator of Rogue Wave Vintage in Bishop!

Emily, how long has Rogue Wave Vintage been in operation, and can you tell me a little bit about the history of the store?

While I’ve been passionate about vintage clothing my entire life, Rogue Wave Vintage was born in February 2020, just before the pandemic swept in. With online sales taking off, I quickly outgrew my home work space and decided to seek out a physical store. That’s when I discovered the ideal location at 175 Academy Ave in downtown Bishop. Rogue Wave Vintage officially opened its doors to the public in December 2020. People called me crazy for opening in the middle of the pandemic, but here we are three years later, continuing to grow!

What is the mission or purpose of Rogue Wave?

At Rogue Wave Vintage, our mission is multi-faceted. Firstly, we aim to reduce both local and global textile waste. A staggering 92 million tons of waste is dumped into landfills annually. We promote second-hand purchases over fast fashion to significantly cut down on this waste.

Secondly, we seek to bolster local economies and resale markets. Resale as an industry is growing — and at 5x the rate of overall commerce. The market for pre-owned goods is expected to reach $250 billion globally by 2027, making up 23 percent of retail sales. We aim to harness this growth locally, creating jobs and partnerships in Bishop while encouraging community engagement in reusing items.

Lastly, as a rare disease survivor and advocate, I use my platform to raise awareness and funds for ongoing research and treatment options for individuals with severe medical conditions and disabilities. We are working toward becoming a non-profit organization to better support this cause.

What types of items do you typically have in stock?

We have a large selection of men’s and women’s clothing, accessories, jackets, handbags, hats, shoes, and loungewear. We also have jewelry, vintage electronics, games and video games, musical instruments, comic books, vinyl albums, home decor, art, and lots of toys for the kids and kids at heart.

Are there any unique or valuable items that have come through your store?

Yes, absolutely! Barbie has been all the rage lately, and we’ve had some very early Barbies come through the store, which is always fun to see! Some of my favorite valuable items are vintage band tee shirts. We’ve had an amazing selection of The Doors, AC/DC, Pink Floyd, and more from the 70s through the 90s.

How has Rogue Wave adapted to changing consumer preferences and trends?

We’ve adapted to changing customer preferences by launching a consignment program in response to the community’s need for recycling items. This program has been a big hit, allowing us to rejuvenate items and provide extra income to customers and the community each month. While appointments are currently needed for consignment, we’re planning to introduce walk-in consignment services soon.

Can you share any heartwarming or interesting customer stories related to your store?

One memorable story involves a lady going through tough times, including homelessness, who came to us needing assistance to find interview attire. We got her sizes, put together a small professional wardrobe, and even did some pants hemming!! When she came back to try everything on, she was really thankful that we gifted everything to her! A month later, we got a sweet thank-you card, saying she had achieved some big milestones and was finally on the hunt for a job. It felt really great to help her out!

We are able to assist in providing replacement wardrobes and necessities to fire and disaster victims, the homeless population, and anyone in need, thanks to generous clothing and toiletry donations from our community. Thank you!!