LEXINGTON, Ky. — It’s a new trend for many, an old passion for some, and a way of learning the story behind the clothing for other vintage clothing collectors like Solid Goods Vintage owner, Justin Steinky. 

For the first time in Kentucky, Steinky and his over 12-foot tall giant pair of overalls offered a new experience for fans of vintage pieces.  

Vintage collectors often buy trade or swap older items from personal wardrobes, thrift stores, and more. Steinky, however, brings an alternative approach to how he finds the rate of items. 

“I don’t thrift, I don’t shop, I don’t do anything. I go and do the footwork to meet people and talk to the small-town folk,” Steinky said about his direct process. 

As a long-time collector, he says his passion for antique apparel lies in its historical value.

“As time went on, I just learned how stuff was made and what certain aspects of a piece of clothing was used for back then,” he explained. 

It’s part of why he specializes in the items made before the 1960s—a challenging period to focus on. However, he says most items from these periods have a story worth finding. 

“I love to research. I love history. I love the depression, the era of the dust bowl, and earlier I am more of a freak for researching than even owning the clothing,” Steinky said. “I collect little clothing advertising pieces. I just love the entire history of it.”

It’s how he discovered the nearly 45-pound oversized denim overalls at a closed store in Missouri.

“She was like, ‘oh these are the overalls my dad was going to build for a town festival,’ and that was in 1948. It was a 20th-anniversary store,” he said. 

Now, with the overalls in his closet and even items from the early 20th century like a top from World War I, he says clothes today do not compare for him. 

”Nothing that we buy in the store today, a piece of furniture, nothing [is of the same quality],” Steinky asserted. 

While he enjoys the vintage look, Steinky’s focus is to find and connect people to historical and quality goods.