This past summer I visited T.A. which is a concept store in the Meatpacking district of New York City, and met Telsha Anderson during my visit. I was so drawn to the way she curated the store, how everything was placed with purpose and all worked so well off of each other. I started chatting with her, and I was very impressed with how she took the time to work with me and help me locate a piece of clothing which wasn't available at the moment. When I started thinking about this series for my website, I thought about how I would want to debut it and Telsha came to mind as I loved how she approached fashion and her store. I believe she will be part of the change that the retail industry needs and will teach and encourage consumers to be more intentional with purchasing as she did with her store.
I am so honored that I was able to interview Telsha and that she is how I am introducing "Spotlight Series". To honor this feature, this week on Instagram I will be styling a pair of Barragan pants I bought from her store so make sure to look out for that. I hope you all enjoy it and if you are in New York check out her incredible store and if not, go to her website and have some fun!
Enjoy the interview:
Firstly, I would like to say I am an admirer of the ambiance you have created in T.A. all the clothing is placed so well together in the different sections of the store, and I am impressed by the curation of different brands. Two that stood out to me were Barragan and PH5 when I first visited, as those are brands I have only gotten to interact with through Instagram.
Audrey- Anna Oliveros - That being said, what are some of your favorite ways to discover new brands, and how do you determine if they are a good fit for T.A.?
Telsha Anderson - Research! Research! Research! I spend a lot of time on Instagram, Tumblr, Vogue, and other media outlets that represent or visually showcase new brands or people. I also do a ton of market research with peers in the industry. I ask peers questions pertaining to what they’re looking for in a brand, boutique, and retail experience. Those three questions, help determine what direction to move forward in regard to our brand matrix.
AAO- In your interview with Naomi Elizee on her Podcast "So...What do you do again?" you mentioned that you traveled to Paris two weeks after signing your lease for T.A. On that trip to Paris visiting showrooms, were there specific brands you knew you wanted to carry in the store, and if so which ones and why?
T.A - Prior to opening, I wanted to carry Situationist, Ellery, and Ottolinger. Mainly because they’re brands that often aren’t seen in retailers. The exciting thing about t.a., is that there are brands that are based overseas that often aren’t available in New York for their audiences to try-on and at t.a., they have the opportunity to do so.
AAO - As many brands are starting to move away from creating more collections such as Pre-Fall and Cruise/Resort as the demand and market has shifted, do you think this will make shoppers more conscious of making purchases that can become trans-seasonal? If so, what is important to you when buying for the store with this in mind?
T.A - Intentional buying is definitely on the horizon. I believe that as retailers shift their buying habits alongside the shift consumers are undertaking, brands will follow. It’s exciting to see brands reallocate their resources towards other parts of the brands since they aren’t participating in Pre-Fall or Resort. The shift that’s currently occurring within the fashion industry is new and exciting. It’s always important for any industry to adapt toward something new – that’s when innovation is at its best and when creativity can truly flourish beyond “the now.”
AAO - I am a big fan of your personal style and how you are not afraid of bold pieces, especially with pants! What is your approach to creating outfits when getting dressed?
I personally dress form the bottom up! I start with my shoes and ultimately, when I have going on that day, the day dictates the shoes. Since my shoes are often times the muted element in my outfits, I’m able to play more with a staple top or pair of pants.
AAO - What are three items in the store right now that you think every fashion lover should be aware of?
· ASHYA “Sheema Slingback Bag”
· The entire (upcoming) Beaufille FW20 collection
AAO - As OilandThreads is a website dedicated to the love of both Fashion and Art, it is only fitting I ask.. who are some of your favorite artists?
I’m currently obsessed with Hannah Polskin.
Make sure to follow Telsha, and check out her store!
@t.a.newyork and https://shop-ta.com/
