Editor's note: This story is featured in OU Daily's Best of Norman Guide, which will be available in print beginning Sept. 10. Racks can be found around Norman and campus. Check out the other featured stories at the bottom of this article.
After opening in February 2023, Crimson Vintage became Norman’s first and only curated vintage clothing store, stocking one of the city's largest selections of clothing from the 1950s to the early 2000s.
“We have a little bit of everything, and I’d say there’s something for everyone,” co-owner Bryan Albert said. “From graphic tees, sweatshirts, hats, jackets, pants, it’s just all second-hand clothing that we’re trying to give another home.”
Crimson Vintage on Aug. 22.
Albert and co-owner Connell McBride met at a thrift store in 2020, and from there a business partnership ensued. The pair first founded Crimson Vintage on the platform Depop, an online marketplace where users can buy and sell previously owned clothing.
Following years of selling online, Crimson Vintage moved into a physical storefront on Main Street. Though it requires more work, Albert and McBride said they prefer a brick-and-mortar shop as a means to connect with the Norman community.
“We wanted to sell in person rather than just shipping the products out because we want to give people the experience and show them everything we’ve been curating,” Albert wrote to the Daily. “We also love being able to meet who we are selling to and seeing them wear their items from us.”
The pair have been interested in thrifting for many years, with McBride beginning in high school. For Albert, vintage clothing has been an outlet of self expression and means of differentiating himself from others.
“It’s always been about being able to express yourself through clothing, having stuff other people are unable to easily find and getting that out into the world,” Albert said. “I’ve always been into having clothing that other people don’t have.”
Crimson Vintage carries a wide selection of curated second-hand clothing, with a wall of the store dedicated to OU apparel and decorated to match. The section’s backdrop is adorned with OU clothing dating back to the 1930s and 1940s.
Crimson Vintage on Aug. 22.
Albert and McBride said they take pride in the store’s ability to curate its selection and restock up to 100 pieces every Saturday.
When curating its selection, Crimson Vintage employee Adam Johnson said he and the co-owners like to observe what others are wearing, what is trending online and what they themselves would wear.
“We think of what people would like and what we think is cool,” Johnson said. “Every time I go to Campus Corner I just watch to see what everyone is wearing.”
Albert and McBride said running social media for the shop is a newfound challenge. The pair create promotional content on Instagram, often highlighting a new selection of items curated from a recent restock.
Albert said he is most proud of seeing clothes they have sold “in the wild” and hearing positive feedback from shoppers. Riley Sands has become a regular customer at Crimson Vintage, attributing that to the shop’s unique selection and welcoming environment.
“Each piece is one of a kind,” Sands said. “You know you’re going to have an easy and nice experience when you go in. (They) really try to connect with the community and provide something that a lot of other stores can't.”
In addition to Crimson Vintage’s connection with customers, Sands said that since first visiting the store during the summer in 2023, consistent and fair pricing has brought him back.
“They have the best prices in Oklahoma,” Sands said. “A lot of people tend to upcharge more because of older pieces, but they mark their prices lower and people recognize that and come back.”
Regarding future plans, Albert and McBride said they hope to expand Crimson Vintage to increase their clothing capacity. They also want to hold more pop-up shops across campus to promote their selection.
At 406 E. Main St., Crimson Vintage is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
This story was edited by Shelby Emery. Riley McDaniel, Sophie Hemker, Grace Rhodes and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
