Monarch Studios, a new storefront and studio space in Verona, specializes in unisex vintage clothing and accessories ranging from the early 1950s up to the early 2000s. For the past 10 months, Sean Flynn and Madison Rae have been working to convert a 1920s bank into a shop and studio space. They’re excited about helping others create outfits that they never envisioned themselves wearing, while also building a community with Monarch Studios.
The store welcomes both everyday consumers and higher-end shoppers. A large variety of Monarch Studio’s vintage apparel consists of t-shirts and jackets, as well as dresses, sunglasses, rings, pins, and keychains. The shop specializes in vintage Nike, Adidas, and Champion goods, and they have an extensive assortment of rock band and rap tees. Several of their sneakers are “holy grail” items for enthusiastic collectors, and they carry several popular streetwear brands. The 1990s has had a large influence on Monarch Studios’ collection and décor.
Products are sourced locally, nationally, and overseas. Over the past 8 years of building up a collection, the shop owner, 26-year-old Pittsburgh native Sean Flynn, has worked hard to develop relationships with reputable sellers to obtain rare and unique pieces. He truly enjoys learning the story behind pieces and talking to sellers to understand where the items originated.
Madison Rae, another Pittsburgh native, is the designer of the space and photographer for Monarch Studios. She is also in charge of the studio’s creative development and women’s clothing curation, and she creates homemade beauty, cosmetic, and personal care goods that are available for purchase in the store.
Monarch Studios isn’t just a store though—the space is intentionally designed to encourage friendship and collaboration. Along with free Wifi, complimentary drip coffee and water is available to customers. Some of the rooms have clean white walls, while others are adorned with Pittsburgh Steelers posters and playbooks. There is even a vault from the original bank that was previously in the building.
The shop officially opened its doors to the public at the end of April. The opening hours are Tuesday-Friday from 5PM-10PM, Saturday from 1-7PM, and Sunday 2-5PM. Between 1-4PM on Monday-Friday, Sean and Madison are also available by appointment for individual shopping where they can cater to a customer’s specific measurements, style, and taste. They stay busy with styling and studio time during the day, as well as building out the space for events. Be sure to follow Monarch Studios on Instagram to stay up to date on store hours and future projects.
They are located at 736 Allegheny River Boulevard. Flynn chose the location because he loves the neighborhood and its accessibility to the city. He’s excited to make an imprint on Verona and calls it a “fantastic community with friendly locals and a classic Pittsburgh environment.”
Monarch Studios encourages shopping locally, being sustainable in your purchases, and buying pieces that will last a lifetime.
Flynn’s ultimate goal is to “help push true quality into the Pittsburgh fashion scene, as well as talk to people about the environmental impact of upcycling and repurposing goods that were made in the past.”
He says, “the coolest thing about vintage is that it never goes out of style.”
To see their collection, or just to hang out and chat about creative projects, visit Monarch Studios in Verona.
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.