In Berkeley, those in search of the rare and eclectic gather at Old Earth Vintage to see what’s in rotation. The shop belongs to eBay seller Tristan Thompson, whose roots in the Nashville music scene inform his search for holy-grail vintage finds.

Here’s Tristan’s story, in his own words:

I went to college for music production and business in Nashville, Tennessee and was involved in the local music scene. Vintage clothing and music gear were a big part of my life, and that culture of collecting and appreciating the history behind things is what led me into reselling.

When I first started selling on eBay, I was a broke college student just trying to pay the rent. I was especially drawn to ‘70s-era tees; they’re rare, the graphics are awesome, and they’re kind of a piece of history. One that comes to mind is the vintage Led Zeppelin Swan Song t-shirt I bought and sold a couple years ago. It was iconic.

I didn’t expect reselling to take off, but it did. I expanded from selling band t-shirts to selling vintage clothing and music equipment, and just fell in love with the lifestyle. It became an ongoing treasure hunt looking for cool pieces that were collectible and made to last.

From vintage storefront to creative hub

A few years ago, I was in the Bay Area, consigning in a vintage shop and selling on eBay. That’s when I came across a storefront in Berkeley that just felt right. There was a small recording studio in the back, so with my background in music, signing the lease was a no-brainer.

I wanted a space where people could come together and share their love for vintage, so that’s what we built with Old Earth Vintage. We sell eclectic vintage clothing that spans many eras and aesthetics and price points, and we intentionally carry a wide range of inventory to reflect the diversity of the neighborhood that we’re in.

We also operate out of a loft space Oakland that serves as a creative hub for our production and events. Between the recording studio and the photography studio we produce everything in-house, from original music for social reels to inventory photos. We host live music events, markets, and art shows in both spaces, and the community we’ve built shops with us in-person and on eBay. 

Sourcing rare, quality pieces that move

I’ve always been very fashion conscious and had an eye for great pieces. When I first started reselling, I was big on garage sales, thrift stores, and the Goodwill bins. These days I lean more into wholesaling and buy vintage in bigger lots. It costs more upfront, but saves a huge amount of time.

As a denim collector myself, I sell a lot of old Levi's jackets, specifically Type I, Type II, and Type III. Arguably the greatest piece of clothing ever made is the Type II Levi's denim jacket. They’re very hard to find, so when one turns up, it's like you found a grail.

The grail items I sell often come from my own collection. One time, I sold a satin bomber jacket that had belonged to Larry King from Larry King Live, with his name embroidered on it. Another time, I bought and sold a Type I Levis jacket from the ‘40s. I purchased it from a French seller who said the jacket belonged to his grandfather who wore it while serving during World War II.

When I’m sourcing vintage, I always look for high-quality pieces that are 100% cotton or made from natural materials. They tend to last longer, they’re better for your skin health-wise, and they’re more sustainable for the environment.

Teaching the next generation how to resell

I’ve always encouraged my friends to start reselling, and several of them now have successful eBay shops based on the advice I’ve given them. So I’m launching a course to teach people how to resell, both online and through a brick-and-mortar storefront.

After trying every selling platform, eBay is the one that works best for me. It has the biggest audience and the most market data, which makes it easy to check value and see comps when pricing your items. I love the efficiency of selling everything in one place.

We’ll be exploring AI tools as things evolve. I think they’re going to make it much easier for resellers to understand what they have, what it's worth, and how to sell it. Plus they’ll make the day-to-day more efficient and less tedious, so I’m hopeful about where things are headed.

Building a life around vintage and music

The storefront is doing really well; we want to build on what we’ve got going and expand to more retail locations. We plan to open an Old Earth Vintage across the Bay in San Francisco, and continue to grow our eBay shop with more rare inventory.

I’m grateful that reselling gave me direction and a community. It brought together all of my interests and background in a way that finally made sense. That’s the power of eBay—it gives you the freedom to make your own way in the world as an entrepreneur; and not follow the path society or your parents expect of you.