Celebrating One Year of Rags

Next week, Rags Restyled 4u officially turns one. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! I can’t even begin to explain how much joy this past year has brought me; watching an idea that started in my high school business class become a living, breathing brand. One thing I know for sure is that style is always worth celebrating. Fashion is more than clothes, it’s confidence, individuality, and the way we choose to show up for ourselves every single day.

The idea of Rags started in high school, back in my business class which was a safe haven for me. I had friends in that class that kept me on my toes, as well as Mr. Smith whom I will never forget. I would propose this same business idea to all of my project groups until I realized this could be my favorite idea yet. So I started logo creating, sourcing, and branding. Next thing you know it was September 1st of 2024 and the brand was ready for launch. It was such a fun process to piece together a business, especially really focusing on our values of self expression and individuality these past couple months. Another motivation to start this business, aside from my business teacher constantly holding me to a high entrepreneurial standard, was my desperation to fit in in high school. I constantly tried to act and dress like those around me and fortunately for me, I was so over it. I literally found myself through dressing in clothes that felt like ME. And that's my goal for those who shop at Rags, to find YOU through clothes that feel like YOU. Cause yes, it is that deep.

I was in college when I started my business so it wasn’t until second semester that I opened our booth at Merchant Square. It quickly became my favorite place to frequent because I loved having that space to display everything about our brand, and the clothes of course. All that was missing was the in person interaction that I am constantly dying for. That's why I started pop-ups. So far I have done 3 pop-ups and I have a 2-day event this weekend! My first pop-up was the Rags Shoot & Shop which was an event run by me! It kicked my butt but MAN it was so amazing. I look back and can't believe I did it. I have loved all the faces I’ve met and I’m so excited to meet more.

Celebrating Rags one year also means celebrating fashion…

Fashion doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves. Too often, it’s dismissed as something shallow or surface-level, when in reality, it’s one of the most powerful ways we communicate who we are. What we choose to wear shapes how we feel in our own skin, how we carry ourselves into a room, and even how we connect with the people around us. Every outfit tells a story, sometimes loud, sometimes subtle, but always personal.

Celebrating fashion is really about celebrating ourselves. It’s about honoring the moments when a piece of clothing makes us feel unstoppable, comfortable, or simply more like us. Style is like a birthday cake for your soul: colorful, layered, and full of little details that bring joy. It’s proof that even small choices, like the way you cuff your jeans or layer a necklace, can add meaning to your day. By celebrating fashion, we’re not glorifying clothes alone, we’re celebrating the confidence, creativity, and individuality they unlock in us. 

As we celebrate one year of Rags, the future feels brighter than ever. We’re not just reflecting on what we’ve built, we’re setting our eyes on everything that’s next. Starting with our 50% off anniversary sale at our Merchant Square booth (09/01–09/07), we want to thank you for being part of this journey and invite you to keep celebrating style with us. We’re also expanding how we connect with you: biweekly blog posts to keep you inspired, This Week’s Rag to break down one thrifted staple at a time, and our growing Rags Thread community where creativity, individuality, and secondhand fashion come alive in conversation. Plus, our new and improved Rags Restylers program is launching, giving creators and thrift lovers a fresh way to collaborate with us and spread the message of self-expression.

Behind the scenes, we’re hard at work developing more online products, applying for the KC pilot program (which means storefront possibilities), and dreaming toward the bigger vision of a storefront that’s not just a shop, but a hub for style, creativity, and community. At the end of the day, all of this comes back to you. Rags has always been about more than clothes, it’s about self-expression, individuality, and dressing 4u, not for trends or outside approval. Here’s to a new chapter, new stories, and new outfits that make you feel your best. It’s been one year of celebrating style, and it'll be many more years of reminding you that what you wear isn’t just clothing, it’s a reflection of you. And that’s always worth celebrating. Now it’s almost time for fall fashion…