Hey there, I’m Chelsea, the founder and owner of MKE Closet Revival! I was born and raised in Milwaukee and love everything about secondhand fashion!
For 10 years I lived in some of the most dynamic cities in the country - two years in San Francisco, two years in New Orleans, and six years in New York City - selling retail technology. I met with some of the largest and most successful retail brands and saw how they navigated and perfected retail operations to sell consumers as much new stuff as they could. All the while, I was thrifting and reselling secondhand clothing as a side hustle.
While my “real job” was exciting and interesting, it was juxtaposed with seeing the stark truth of this consumerism - just how much of this stuff was bought, used for a short time, and discarded, either ending up in thrift stores or worse, landfills.
Why I started MKE Closet Revival
After attending conference after conference to hear about the new ways brands were getting customers to buy MORE MORE MORE, it only fueled my passion to buy as much as I could second hand. And when I no longer used that item, I sought to sell it to someone who would love it as much as I did, giving it yet another life.
As I shared my enthusiasm for secondhand fashion with friends and family, they became intrigued, often asking if I could sell their items too. Before long, what started as a side hustle expanded to include clients in New York City, where I discovered my true calling.
Returning to my roots in Milwaukee in June 2023, I seized the opportunity to turn my passion full-time. In December of the same year, I started MKE Closet Revival, representing the culmination of years of dedication and a deep-seated love and belief in the power of sustainable fashion.
At MKE Closet Revival, my mission is clear: to breathe new life into pre-loved clothing and accessories, championing the circular fashion movement, and igniting a love affair with secondhand fashion in everyone I can. I can't wait to connect with you and chat more about it soon!
