OLD SOUL EXCHANGE

LOCAL BUSINESS

Charm bar offers a chance to create custom, vintage accessories

A charm bar is a chance to make a cute, custom accessory that represents an individual’s personality, preferences, hobbies and aesthetics. While the concept isn’t necessarily new, Old Soul Exchange has added its own twist by providing vintage charms to adorn one’s neck, wrist, keychain and more.

“It’s kind of a blank canvas for you to create your own keepsake,” said Rachel McCartney, Old Soul Exchange owner. “You can pick stuff that’s funny or pick stuff that fits your outfit. You can pick stuff that means something to you, whether it be something that represents your grandma or your friends. We’ve got initials. We’ve literally got something for everyone here.” The possibilities are endless for what can be created.

“We do bracelets, necklaces and we are starting to do bag charms, like some ones you can put on your purse. We’ve done some wallet chains,” McCartney said. “Really, the sky’s the limit with it.”

The charm bar also provides quality chain as the base from which one can hang their vintage charms.

“We have done tons of research to find good chain, so we are offering tarnish resistant stainless steel [that is] hypoallergenic. Definitely took into account the fact that we’re a river town. People are outside on the water. There’s humidity,” Mc-Cartney said. “It is still costume jewelry, which is what we had to do to keep it affordable. But it is all stainless steel and stainless steel plate.”

The chain can be cut to any size for a custom fit.

“We can cut whatever length you want,” McCartney said. “I know the layering of necklaces has been really popular lately. So you can have a thick one and then two thins, and we can cut them all three at different lengths for you. You could put a pendant on one. If you’re a jewelry maker, you can come buy the charms separately. You could buy the chain separately.”

The Charm Bar isn’t the only reason to stop by Old Soul Exchange; the store is teeming with goodies.

“Old Soul Exchange is a vintage, retro and local, curated vintage store. So vintage, for me, means anything that’s 20 years or older. The old stuff, we’re giving new life to, which now is like, early 2000s and back. I feel like our sweet spot is kind of 80s, 90s; that’s when I grew up. And then I love old 70s clothes. We’ve got fashion from all eras, all genres, all styles,” McCartney said. “The ‘retro’ is that we don’t always go 20 years back; There’s some stuff, some fashion, some things that help complete those outfits that aren’t necessarily old but still cool.”

And anything that is outside of McCartney’s wheelhouse, she sources from elsewhere.

“A lot of people don’t know this, but we are actually home to over 30 different vendors,” she said. “We work with local vintage curators.”

The store also has a book nook curated by Annie Flores with Bluejay Vintage (instagram: @bluejay_ vintage_atx).

“She does pop-up [markets]. She does the Austin Indie Book Fair, all that cool bookworm stuff in Austin, and she has curated a whole bookstore for us,” McCartney said. “She comes in every Thursday and works, so if you want to talk books, she’s here. She also restocks [on that day], so we’ve always got awesome classic titles, vintage titles. She’s got a great LGBTQ+ section, lots of memoir, lots of music books, all of that. So we also have our little vintage book nook, and it’s all resale books.”

Go check out Old Soul Exchange, located at 123 South LBJ Drive, to shop their vintage wares and check out the charm bar. One can get a free charm with the purchase of five. McCartney is also thinking of starting a dollar off charm day soon.