Estefanía Plasencia loved fashion her whole life. Although telenovelas and magazines offered an entryway into this world, those mediums never quite reflected people like her– a young girl living in Morelia, Mexico. A self-identified “old soul,” Estefanía, who goes by the name Fanny Kahlo, now taps into vintage clothing to express herself and her adoration for fashion through her Depop shop Ojo x Ojo. 

“My interest in fashion rooted from the need of me wanting to express myself through thrifted clothing that my mother and grandma would purchase for me,” she says. “Which held deep sentimental value, pushing me to seek ways to have the clothing last and incorporate the pieces in various forms.”

The San Francisco-based seller started Ojo x Ojo three years ago, and named it after a saying her mother always told her: “De la moda, lo que te acomoda.” Since then, she’s relied on Depop, an e-commerce platform for curated shops, garnering over 8,000 followers and selling over 300 pieces. Like many a girlboss before her, Estefanía also models, photographs, and styles the clothes on the Depop shop. 

“I wanted to start this shop to inspire someone to see a piece of clothing styled in one way and to influence them to make it their own,” she says. 

Her success caught the eye of the Depop team, who are now hosting a workshop to help Latinx shops and entrepreneurs to create spaces for themselves and their customers on the e-commerce platform. (You can RSVP here!)

Emperifollá caught up with Estefanía to chat about style, why her heritage inspires what she wears, and why Depop has been key to her business. 

1. When did you start Ojo x Ojo? What inspired you to start it?

I started Ojo x Ojo about 3 years ago. My mother refers to a lot of things through “dichos.” One that always stuck with me is, “De la moda, lo que te acomoda”. It refers to feeling good in whatever you chose to wear. 

She and my grandmother really inspired my shop’s name, Ojo x Ojo, the literal translation is eye for eye.They both had an eye for always thrifting, and going to garage sales and it’s something I’ve been doing since I was a child. 

To me, fashion has always been viewed in such a unique way through each eye, I wanted to start this shop to inspire someone to see a piece of clothing styled in one way and to influence them to make it their own.

After I began to get good feedback, I wanted to also focus on also building a shop that cultivates community, self-empowerment, and how to promote sustainability.

2. Why Depop?

I first joined Depop with a purpose to sell items from my personal closet that I no longer wore, with means to make some extra cash. After my first sale I continued to upload items and started to see my shop grow with a following. Personally, I see Depop as a platform that has been able to intertwine fashion with community building, which is something that I really enjoy on the platform.

They not only provide a platform to sell but also provide a safe space for folks that come from different backgrounds, featuring artists for Pride month and highlighting their shops, their work. I love the communication from the team, always sending tips and tricks on how to sell.

To say the least, the immersion of both worlds shows the power of digital communities and platforms like Depop’s.

3. What has been your experience as a Latinx entrepreneur in the fashion space? 

My experience inside the fashion industry has been one that has brought a lot of awareness on the lack of representation and opportunities that we are provided primarily due to the lack of resources and tools that we are given. Many of us don’t have the funds to  attend fashion school where a lot of knowledge on being an entrepreneur is gained.

In my case, I always felt like I had to suppress my passion for fashion because growing up I was never really encouraged to explore things that I was interested in, it was more about getting a job that would provide me with a comfortable living, not one that would push me to explore outside of my comfort zone. My journey as a Latinx entrepreneur is only beginning, and I will continue to claim spaces and use my voice to represent my experience.

4. How does your heritage influence your style?

My heritage has influenced my style through the prints that my eye gravitates towards.

The lace, the ribbons, the boldness. I am a collector of silver jewelry and feel naked without my rings, necklaces that I either thrift or purchase directly from vendors in Mexico when I visit. My grandmother was an avid thrifter and when she passed, she left me a lot of pieces that I hold dearly to my heart, my heritage is something that I have incorporated into my modern day style. 

5. How would you describe your personal style?

My style tends to be very fluid. One day I will feel really empowered in a pantsuit with some fierce boots, while other days I wear a hoodie and sneakers and feel the most at peace. 

I have a huge collection of vintage t-shirts and tote bags that I’ve been collecting for many years.

I definitely feel like I have a very Mexican dad style. I love that my style fluctuates as my feelings do, I am a very sentimental human and I use clothing to express how I am feeling through my prints, t-shirts, tote bags and my bold jewelry.

6. How do you find the pieces for your shop? What do you look for? 

I am an avid thrifter. I used to attend estate sales and garage sales pre-Covid very frequently. I source everywhere I travel to. 

I feel like each piece holds such a beautiful story. My eye tends to gravitate towards bold colors and print pieces that bring comfort and shape to my audience. I also like to keep my eye out for sustainable materials and natural fibers (cotton, hemp, linen) when I source. It’s important not only to pay attention to the quality of garments, but also the entire supply chain, and product afterlife.

7. What do you wish you could see more of the online curated boutique space?

I wish there was more visibility for us. I wish that folks were seen and given a space all year long and not only when it’s Pride Month, Latinx Heritage Month. There is so much talent out there, so much passion and I wish that we were celebrated all year long.

I want there to be more of a conversation of how one started on their journey, to encourage others to not give up, I wish there was less competition but more community building. Everyone has such a different eye, and we can all achieve our own level of success!

Join Fanny and the Depop team for a conversation on how you can start selling and growing your brand on Depop. RSVP here!

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