Words: Lara Pacillo // Photos: Jack Adamson
In July last year, Mackenzie Gray and Daniel started a Depop account to clear out old pieces in their wardrobes. Six months later, and the couple have just opened their own brick-and-mortar vintage and designer store Rags N Racks in Adelaide’s CBD.
“We didn’t really think of it to be anything more than just selling a couple of clothes,” says 21-year-old Mackenzie.
“We were never expecting it to take off like it did, but sales were daily and Depop really took off.”
Depop is an online fashion marketplace platform; when the Rags N Racks account began gaining heavy traction, Mackenzie and Daniel started to think of it more like a business.
It was always a dream for 25-year-old Daniel — who is also a street artist — to own a clothing store, so they began using their Depop account as an online shop.
While building up more of a collection of pieces, the pair began hosting pop-ups at markets such as Gilles at The Grounds and Moonlight Markets in Campelltown while still running the Depop store.
Daniel soon came across a vacant space just off Rundle Mall in Twin Plaza, which is now the new and first home of Rags N Racks.
Standing amongst racks of vintage and designer clothes, the store’s name is very fitting.
“‘Rags’ is like the vintage side of what we offer — the older pieces,” Mackenzie explains.
“‘Racks’ is like how people say they ‘spend racks on clothes’ — it’s more the expensive designer stuff.”
Brands range from Acne Studios, Stone Island, and Moncler through to Nike, Harley Davidson, and Carhartt. There’s vintage, new designer, and vintage designer, where the shop brings the styles together in an appeal to a range of budgets.
Mackenzie and Daniel have completed most of the store fit out themselves. Daniel’s street art decorates a feature wall, garments are scattered throughout, and cartoon Disney and WWE figurines bring hints of nostalgia.
Along with the new brick-and-mortar store, Rags N Racks have brought on a new consignment and trade element to the business.
Costumers are welcome to bring in their old clothes, which they can swap with pieces in the store. They can also sell these pieces through consignment or sell directly to the business through store credit or cash.
“We’re really trying to be a part of the vintage reseller community of Adelaide,” Mackenzie says.
“We want to work with customers that come in to help them sell their clothes or to get rid of their stuff.”
Mackenzie and Daniel work with global suppliers including those based in the US and Europe to source their pieces, which is a massive part of the job.
“We’ll receive so much vintage stock, maybe 400 kg of it,” Mackenzie says.
“We repair, wash, and price everything individually.
“After sorting we’ll sell about 25 per cent of those as ‘rare’ very high-quality pieces and the rest will be a little bit cheaper.”
Rags N Racks have a strict verification procedure to ensure all pieces are authentic, while going through a third party if an item seems questionable.
The variety of clothing stretches through to its size offerings, which Mackenzie says ranges from XXXS to XXXL. They want all to feel welcome, and push against fast fashion too.
“We’re a shop that offers that quality while being conscious of our environmental impact,” Mackenzie says.
“We want people to feel comfortable, like they can come in and know that there is something here for everyone.”
Rags N Racks: 7 Twin Plaza, 22/24 Twin Street, Adelaide 5000
