Life & Work with Christen Pischke of Garner Nc

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christen Pischke

Hi Christen, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hi I’m Christen – an engineer, free spirit and curator of The Christened Collection. I love engaging with shoppers and uplifting people of all backgrounds and body types.

The Christened Collection is a curated secondhand pop-up boutique with a healthy mix of modern and vintage attire. Each clothing collection features 100% natural fibers and inclusive sizing from XS to 5X.

The Christened Collection started as a creative outlet for me. My remote desk job did not vibe well with my free-spirited nature and I was a new parent looking for connection and community. I started to list my personal clothes on resale apps, and it quickly grew into sourcing all clothing sizes for my own website!

It is more than thrifting and online resell now. You can find me all around the Raleigh area at pop-up markets and shop interactively on my social media accounts. This small business has grown into a beautiful platform to promote body positivity, mental wellness & sustainable shopping in our local community.

Each clothing piece you’ll find in my boutique has been mindfully Christened and is ready for its new life with you!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
So smooth! No, I’m kidding of course. I felt like I had no idea what I was doing when I launched this small business and trying something new felt very risky.

During the first year of Covid, I faced so much uncertainty and self doubt being a first time mom while also struggling with my own anxiety and depression. I reached a point where I self-isolated and gave up many of the creative activities that make me.. well me! That thankfully wasn’t the end of my story.

Thrifting gave me the creative spark I needed to focus on myself and put in the hard work to heal and grow mentally. It connected me to a wonderful community of local creators and makers. It brought me inspiring friends that supported and encouraged me to take the risk to start a small business.

In two years, this business has grown from me shopping for a few friends and family to now sourcing preloved clothing for hundreds of women at local Raleigh pop-up markets and across the USA on my online platforms.

I firmly believe everything has a purpose, even when it may seem like the end of the road. Whether it’s a donated clothing piece or a person stuck in self-doubt and depression, all it takes is someone to believe in them enough to see the beautiful possibilities ahead.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an electrical engineer in the renewable energy field. I’m currently a senior consultant to major solar and wind farm developers. I’m passionate about clean sustainable living!

My small secondhand clothing business sets me apart from other young professionals and artists.

People are really surprised when they know me from just the engineering or just the clothing worlds. They seemingly are opposite- but not really! Both renewables and secondhand shopping are impactful ways to reduce your personal carbon footprint. One job is just more fun than the other (I’ll leave which one up to interpretation).

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Our culture is shifting towards more responsible and sustainable practices which is driven by the younger generation – which is exciting!

In my engineering career, I’ve seen a significant increase in the number of wind and solar projects being built across the USA. The application queue for new renewable plants is huge at this time as well, meaning we are on track for hundreds of new wind and solar farms to be built over the next 25 years.

From a clothing perspective, “fast fashion” is the norm now- Cheaply made, mass produced clothing that is often worn once or not at all then tossed. Now I’m not above ordering from Amazon, SHEIN and Temu on occasion. It’s so convenient and quick.

However, when I take a step back and truly consider the quality of what I receive from these big companies versus the impact my choice has on the environment, I realize I much rather reuse and repurpose existing clothing then support excess waste and irresponsible businesses. The fast fashion clothes will not last long but the damage to our planet will stay.

On a positive note, I have noticed a shift towards more secondhand, locally sourced purchases and an increase in natural fibers options available at stores!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christenedco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christenedco
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christen-pischke