If you are a college student on the hunt for cute, personalized, and cost-effective clothing, The Grateful Threads is a must. Created just two months ago by Monmouth University’s very own Cristina Medlin, The Grateful Threads is a unique business that was sparked by Medlin’s love for not only thrifting clothes but also making her customers happy.
Medlin’s company thrives off receptive customer service and personalized sales. Medlin is a senior history education student who has been endlessly devoted to promoting her business.
In fact, the idea sparked from her own interests. She has always loved art, and seeking to pursue other forms of art besides painting, she launched The Grateful Threads. The name takes inspiration from one of her favorite bands, the Grateful Dead.
Allyce Andricola, a sophomore political science student and a friend of Medlin, said, “Cristina works hard in everything she does. She puts her all into her passions and interests. She continues to spread positivity and kindness through her products.”
Medlin posts multiple pieces per week, which customers can easily purchase off of the Instagram page @the_grateful_threads). With each piece priced at $5, each customer receives a thrifted and personalized piece of clothing created by Medlin herself.
She visits a Goodwill thrift store in Ocean Township every Sunday and handpicks pieces of clothing that is purchased for just $1. She then buys an assortment of patches on online shops like Etsy and AllyExpress, customizes the piece of clothing, then resells it for $5.
Medlin averages about five to seven orders per week, and the entirety of the profits goes right back into the business towards more patches, bleach, and clothing from Goodwill—the tools used to create each personalized piece.
If you’re wondering why Medlin only charges $5 for hand-designed clothing, it’s because as a frugal person herself, she is aware of the fact that people want good clothes for cheap. Medlin sought to incorporate her own values into her business by promoting low-priced yet high-quality clothing.
Medlin is aware that she does not produce much of a profit—but for her, it was never about that. She never hounds people for the money because that is not what matters to her; she truly values each sale and is humbled by the fact that people want to buy and wear her works of art.
Medlin especially cherishes the gratifying feeling when customers receive new pieces of clothing that have been created just for them. When a customer wears her clothing in public, Medlin says that it suddenly all seems worth it.
Medlin’s favorite part about her business is that every piece is different. Since every article of clothing is thrifted, they all have their own stories. Each piece of Grateful Thread clothing is made from different material, different stitching, and is eventually customized for specific customers’ desires.
Her friend Brianna Rudolph, a junior social work student, appreciates the benefits of her company.
She said, “It’s an awesome thing she’s doing because not only is she giving old clothes new life, but she is making comfortable and extremely fashionable clothing at an affordable price.”
As for the future of her business, Medlin loves what she is doing and is thinking about expanding her customization to include painting on clothes rather than just patching them. This would bring in her love for painting, adding a unique burst of creativity to each article of clothing made right from the heart.
Aside from the revitalized clothing sold by The Grateful Threads, Medlin’s enterprising story is a part of the reason her customers visit her Instagram page to purchase their own shirt, denim jacket, jeans, or any other piece of clothing they could imagine.
Cristina’s hard work and dedication to her business is admired by her customers, who have been consistently provided with fashionable, custom-made clothes.
PHOTO COURTESY of Samantha Moss
PHOTO COURTESY of The Grateful Threads
