Kenisha Mahajan, Contributing Photographer

Depop seller Krystina Jackson — better known under her seller name “Soulful Threads” — opened a vintage store of the same name on Chapel Street last week. 

The store, which opened on Friday, Nov. 24, is a part of the Shops at Yale, a collection of over 65 stores located in Downtown New Haven. Soulful Threads is the first second-hand vintage store in the Shops at Yale — and Jackson, who is from Connecticut, said she is excited to bring Soulful Threads’ unique offerings to the New Haven community.

“I’ve always loved fashion and clothing. I’ve always been the girl with the cute outfit. I grew up thrifting with my friends because we couldn’t afford anything at the mall,” Jackson said. “It’s the only thing that I’ve done consistently in my life and I’m happy to do again and again.”

The store features an array of pieces, largely drawing inspiration from 90s and early 2000s styles. The racks are lined with vintage graphic tees, flared jeans, camo cargo pants and brands like JNCO and Parasuco. 

Prior to opening the physical store, Jackson had been a seller on Depop, a popular app for selling second-hand clothing, since she was 16 years old. After graduating college and losing her first job due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Jackson returned to selling clothes and focused on growing the Soulful Threads brand. 

Jackson has lived in New Haven and New York, where she moved temporarily to expand Soulful Threads. Over the last few years, Jackson hosted at least twenty pop-up shops in New York and Connecticut, including six events in New Haven. 

“I think New Haven is really in its prime, and we don’t have anything like this store around here,” Jackson said. “After COVID I think a lot of young people moved over here because it’s just like a quaint little town, but we still have a lot of the things that a place like New York has to offer.”

David DelVecchio, director of real estate asset management for Yale University Properties, wrote that Soulful Threads brings new, innovative offerings to the community. 

DelVecchio highlighted the importance of having a female and minority-owned business as a part of the Shops at Yale, as they continue to seek a diverse group of tenants. 

Amanda Amparo Espinal, who works at the Soulful Threads store, mentioned the significance of it opening in Downtown New Haven.

“I hope that other people see this as a safe space. Not only that, [but also that] they find really cool unique pieces here and they feel confident in their clothes,” Espinal said.

One of the reasons Espinal chose to work at Soulful Threads was because of its focus on repurposing items and providing an outlet for self-expression for those who visit the shop. For that reason, the shop features an array of pieces and offers a 10 percent discount for all students year-round.

Jackson said that she has spent years building a brand that largely caters to young people and is centered around the preferences of Gen Z. Along with the revival of vintage styles, Jackson mentioned that something that sets younger people apart from other demographics is their greater concern with sustainability and buying second-hand items — as evidenced by the rise of platforms like Depop and vintage stores. 

“We’re the generations that honestly, like care the deepest about the earth, because, we’re the ones that are going to have to deal with everything when shit hits the fan with the earth,” Jackson said. 

Espinal noted that a large number of customers have come in since opening and found unique pieces in the racks, adding that she appreciates the environment of the shop and what it can bring to potential patrons.

Above all, Jackson said that Soulful Threads serves as a vehicle through which people can experiment with their styles and self-expression. 

“Wear whatever the fuck you want to wear, be whoever the fuck you want to be,” she said. “And if somebody gives you hate for it, just let that fuel your passion to be a little bit weirder tomorrow.”

Soulful Threads is located at 1022 Chapel St.