Today we’d like to introduce you to Galo Rugel.
Galo, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I got a job in a field I never imagined working in right out of college. As with most millennials, it was something I didn’t necessarily see myself doing career-wise but it paid the bills and that was more important at the time.
Needless to say, I entered the depths of corporate hell and it took its toll on me. So much, so that after seven years, I made an unexpected life decision and decided to backpack throughout Southeast Asia for four months.
I was yearning for change and looking for a calling. The trip allowed me to reset and start new. Fast forward, when I finally returned to Miami, I still did not know quite yet what it was I wanted to do but that was ok because more importantly, I knew what I didn’t want to do and that was to go back to work for somewhere I knew my mind and heart were not fully vested in.
As a kid and young adult, I was always keen to fashion. I grew up and thrived on 90’s and early 2000’s fashion which is where a lot of my inspiration comes from today. I saw a growing trend back in 2015 of the whole “vintage” fashion scene and thought to myself “Hey I can do this!”
And thus, Other Peoples Property was born.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As with any startup, there are always going to struggle.
Figuring out how I wanted to brand Other Peoples Property and set it apart from the rest of the growing niche industry this has become continues to be a battle. How did I want it to reach the masses? How am I going to compete with others who are already rooted in the game?
It’s never going to be easy pursuing and perfecting something you love doing, but as long as you remain persistent and consistent you will be recognized and rewarded.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Other Peoples Property – what should we know?
Other Peoples Property (OPP for short) is not to be confused with the same name of the 90’s hip hop song.
The name means what we specialize in. Whether that be vintage clothing hand selected and thrifted by me or whether it be our in house branding using inspiration from fashion, pop culture and obscure references from the ’90s on.
So, when we say Other Peoples Property, we mean exactly that because these are vintage thrifted hand selected pieces that once belonged to and was once someone else’s property. Once thrifted, the piece remains as is or is customized (i.e custom bleached/dyed or distressed).
I’m most proud of as a brand and creative in my ability to hand select these pieces for our ever-growing inventory. I pull inspiration from various garments and eras which essentially is a reflection of my fashion choices and for that to be recognized by peers and customers makes me know that I’m on the right path.
Although this niche industry has only continued to grow with new ones constantly popping up, I think what sets us apart from the rest is our ability to provide not only the vintage clothing but also our OPP branded collection that has aspirations to be the next renowned streetwear brand.
What’s your outlook for the industry over the next 5-10 years?
As I’ve stated, this industry is only going to get bigger and vintage is never going to go out of style. People are always going to want nostalgia in their lives and now that the secret is out it’s only going to expand even more.
Our hope is that we are at the forefront of this movement and that we continue to be trailblazers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.memoapparel.com/collections/opp
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/otherpeoplesproperty
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