Alumni

Vintage Design Shop Owners and Grads Featured in Curbed

Yuka Iwasaki (pictured at left) and Camille Nichelini launched Resident Objects, a vintage design shop, from their Los Angeles apartments six months ago on Instagram. The online home goods store – with 36,000 followers and counting – pays tribute to 1980s aesthetics with items such as shell lamps and vases, pastel butter dishes, frosted-glass candle holders, and beveled mirrors. Curbed recently interviewed the pair of FIDM Grads and current neighbors who became friends after bonding over their love of thrifting. 

Although Yuka, who received a Fashion Design degree in 2014, and Camille, a 2016 Visual Communications Graduate, both studied at FIDM, the duo didn’t cross paths on campus, but connected online three years ago. “Out of all our friends, we thrifted the most,” Yuka told Curbed. “So we would always be going to thrift stores together all the time and we would always find really cool stuff.” After collecting their own vintage wares, they realized there were probably like-minded people who would be interested in their treasures. All products are styled and photographed in their own apartments and some items sell within seconds of being posted.

“We didn’t launch it with, like, the idea of it being as big as it is,” said Camille, who was previously the Visual Merchandising Team Lead at Bloomingdale’s, a National Stylist for Trunk Club, and now works as a Social Media Manager for Nailed It! Media. “But it is that big now. It’s honestly a fun project so we’re kind of just doing it day by day.” By day, Yuka is an Apparel Designer at Valfrè. She was previously an Assistant Designer for The Hanger and is a longtime Freelance Wardrobe Stylist. 

They cite The Golden Girls, Art Deco, and colorful “eighties-style Miami” when asked about the brand of vintage they sell. Camille noted that Yuka also loves clowns and Western wear, like cowboy boots. Yuka and Camille travel “far and wide” to estate sales, thrift stores, flea markets, and utilize Craigslist to source their finds. Camille added: “We have each other’s keys and being neighbors has made things with the business super convenient because if someone is coming to pickup an item and one of us isn’t home, the other usually is.”

Learn more on Instagram @residentobjects

Categories:  Fashion Design Visual Communication Alumni