Welcome! I’m Meena
I am a stubborn, creative artist and businesswoman. And I like to solve problems. I initially started the Vintage Royalty as a creative outlet for myself after graduating from college. But after listening to what people wanted, after searching for what I wanted, I soon realized that there was a void.
It takes an exhaustive effort to find a unique accessory to match your outfit, the perfect pair of earrings to brighten your day and your wardrobe. I want to make it easier for you. You might be thinking, “It’s just earrings.” But to me, it’s way more than that. Accessories are a way to tell a story. A way to make an old dress new again. A way to treat yourself. So yes, they are just earrings, but they are earrings with a dream. They are optimistic, and as soon as you wear them, they’re yours.
My favorite outfit to style with VR jewelry is a t-shirt and jeans. what’s yours?
A fashion school drop-out with a dream
I created The Vintage Royalty to give people like us an option and opportunity for high-end, one-of-a-kind accessories and vintage homewares at an affordable price. And not only are they attainable, they are mood boosting, confidence building, tiny works of art.
“Vintage Royalty founder and designer Meena Osei-Kuffour’s bold, notice-me earrings make stepping out in style feel like a celebration”
— Etsy
How VR Came to Be
I started Vintage Royalty in 2008 by doing a variety of things. I opened an Etsy shop, donated to fashion shows, and passed out a flimsy business card that said “vintage paper earrings”. There wasn’t much there in the beginning, but I had ideas, dreams, aspirations. I moved to NYC shortly after and that is where my brand took off, with unlimited resources for inspiration and materials and so many creative people helping me and giving me advice. I also interned a lot while I lived there, listening and learning from huge fashion houses. I started at Daryl K, then Opening Ceremony, then Alexander Wang, Lanvin, and finally Band of Outsiders. By interning, I met a lot of industry professionals, and knew where all the best manufacturers were in the city. New York helped me perfect my vintage shopping routine. It made me a stronger person and helped me find my path. For that I’m forever grateful.
Then I moved back to Chicago in 2016 and started over with Vintage Royalty. I came back with a plan, with a focus on the future. I took this time to meet people in the city. I did pop-ups in bars, and cold-called popular boutiques. I went to fashion shows, and introduced myself to any and everyone. Eventually, I landed my creations in two stores, Squasht Boutique and Modern Cooperative. After that, I was able to get more and more wholesale accounts and I became more well known in Chicago.
In March 2022, I created the VR Member Club after a long-time friend and Vintage Royalty client said she needed someone to just “do it for her.” After our conversation, I realized that there was a need for a monthly subscription service for just earrings. Something that’s affordable, reliable, unique, and fun! My friend is a mom and hardworking educator, and every time I create something for the VR Club, I consider her lifestyle and her needs. Now she knows that there’s a monthly pick-me-up just for her on the way, and that she has several earrings to choose from to elevate her daily wardrobe.
Now I’m building and re-shaping the company to tie back into its roots. My goal is always to provide unique, attainable jewelry — I know my friend isn’t the only one struggling with “outfit fatigue”. On top of that, I started to offer DIY Jewelry Making classes where I bring you into the design process so you’re able to see first-hand how I design my jewelry. The classes are a lot of fun, extremely rewarding, and a great way to mix up your social activities. I hope to expand the classes in the future to include helping others in need, as well as supporting future generations of creatives.
During the Pandemic, my company was labeled “the perfect Zoom accessory.” And here’s why. When you are not dressed for the occasion, the earrings help you look ready and feel confident. They can be fun and attention-grabbing, a simple way to enhance your meeting.
Where every piece tells a story. We started The Vintage Royalty with one goal in mind: to create pieces of wearable art inspired by the past and made for the future. 13 years later, the goal is still the same.
