Sustainably sourced, locally made, with a history and story to be told. Meet the hottest name in luxury – Vintage Luxe Up – a new brand by David Altman that has created the world’s finest collection of vintage Hermès scarves reimagined into one-of-a-kind gifts and home décor.
Tell us about yourself and how you started this business.
My background is in luxury retail. I’ve been fortunate to have partnered with world-class retailers including Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works in senior merchandising and leadership roles. I scoured the world’s luxury markets to bring amazing never before seen products to our customers. The love of the hunt is in my DNA.
Following that, I started an advisory and investment company focused on helping privately held luxury brands unlock growth. Working with some amazing entrepreneurs which helped me decide to start my own sustainable luxury brand – Vintage Luxe Up – in 2020 at the beginning of COVID.
I’m a storyteller at heart. I’ve discovered that there are usually 2 stories around Hermès scarves. The creation story which can often take 18 months from start to finish and then the acquisition story. There’s a deep emotional attachment to the scarves. Our clients can usually tell us the where, when and why they acquired it.
From the start, I wanted to be a mission-based brand with a focus on doing well by doing good. Our mission was simple: conserve the beauty of these amazing textile works of art, reduce waste and impact on the planet, provide local jobs and give back to charity.
In the 4 years we’ve been in business, we’ve been able to give new life to over 500 vintage scarves which otherwise would have languished in closets, provided much needed work in our hometown of Lexington, KY and given back to charities supporting Ukraine relief, breast cancer and women’s heart disease.
With the vast selection of Hermès scarf designs, how do you choose which ones to transform into unique pieces?
One of the things we love most about the Hermès scarf is there’s always a story. We know the year, the designer, and the name of the scarf. With thousands of designs out there in the market since the 1st Hermès scarf was designed in 1937, the scarf needs to speak to me. It needs to excite me and tell me a story.
In a world of beige décor, we love color. Color is what Hermès does best. With some scarves having as many as 27 different colors we search for designs that best exemplify the brand’s artistic heritage. Our equestrian roots run deep as well, our equestrian edit is one of our customer favorites.
We have reimagined scarves from 47 Hermès artists introduced between 1937 and 2023.
Can you describe a particularly memorable project or piece you’ve created from a Hermès scarf?
A customer came to us with a scarf that belonged to her mother and had been in her collection for almost 40 years. Her mother had just passed away and she wanted to create something to remember her mother. We were able to make a pillow and 3 crossbody bags (for her sisters) all from a single Hermès Les Robes scarf designed by Philippe Ledoux in 1963.
Custom projects are a specialty of ours. We love working with clients to create one of a kind pieces from their own personal collections. From start to finish in a matter of weeks, we can create something very special.
Silk fabric, especially vintage scarves, is challenging to work with while maintaining quality and neatness. How do you select ateliers to ensure each item meets your standards?
We are blessed with amazing family-owned ateliers here in our hometown of Lexington. Our pillow workroom specializes in high end window treatments and upholstery. Used to working with fabrics costing as much as $1000 a yard, they’re a perfect partner for us.
We work side by side with them to create one-of-a-kind pieces. We hand select fabrics and trim to bring out the best of each scarf. Once designed, it will never be repeated.
How do you balance preserving the original artwork of Hermès scarves with creating functional products?
We see it as a win-win. Often stashed away in drawers, we give new life to these amazing textiles. We celebrate the handmade nature of the scarves by creating one-of-a-kind home décor and gifts.
Silk scarves are delicate and require care even when used as scarves. How do you suggest maintaining items like bags made from Hermès silk scarves?
We recommend dry-cleaning our pieces.
Beyond what’s available on Vintageluxeup.com, do you plan to create new product lines from Hermès scarves?
We’re always on the lookout for new ideas. Magazines, Instagram and customer comments are sources of inspiration. In under 4 years we grown from a single item to a lifestyle brand including home décor and fashion accessories. Feel free to reach out and let us know what you’d like us to make.
