It's been a year since we made the long trek from our beloved West Coast to our old stomping grounds: the East Coast. As with most moves, a job opportunity presented itself and so we packed our bags and optimistically moved east. However, as part of my ongoing self-discovery (post-therapy), I have realized that I don't like change. At all. Unfortunately for me, this token of self-awareness came as I unpacked our bags in unknown territory.
Change can be exciting for some, especially when you're younger. My theory is that you have energy and feel bolder to be out there. While I still have some energy, it is true that as you get older, it is harder to make new friends. It took quite some time for me to get out there, to drive in the city (IYKYK), and to hatch a plan to introduce Well Rounded to D.C.
As the holidays approached, I realized I hadn't ventured outside yet. Thankfully, an opportunity came up where I was able to lease a spot for some time. I enthusiastically worked on my plan. However, a couple of days before the event, it dawned on me that I didn't know ANYONE here. Not a soul - and who would come if they had no idea who I was? Panic ensued. Enter Rajni.
I hear a lot about building a community, especially in the business world. They say to be successful, you need to have a community whether it's with your customers or fellow business owners. However, I always thought you had to be invited to one, earn your way in, and prove yourself. What I didn't think of is, well...you could start one, nurture it, and watch it grow.
Rajni has been building one for some time, brick by brick. She's immersed herself in the vintage community. She's graced many FYP's on Tik Tok sharing vintage pop-ups in the city. You see, she's started a community (bold!), nurtured it (bolder!), and watched it grow while simultaneously building her very own vintage business (the boldest!).
Rajni came across my advertising on Instagram and ran with it on her social media. She boosted my pop-up and encouraged her followers to come visit my shop. At this time, I didn't know Rajni, and this was probably a small and friendly gesture on her part. But to me, it meant the WORLD. It felt as if she had patted me on the back and said, welcome to D.C.
I'm not going to bore you with the rest of the details, but I can tell you that Rajni has been an integral part of Well Rounded's adjustment to D.C. She's inspired me to build a community. To work up the courage to show my face on my social media (I am terribly shy), to nurture my California community, and to build one here in D.C.
If you've met Rajni or shopped her vintage shop, Jungli Vintage, you know she's a bright spirit. Full of life with the extrovert energy I could only wish for. I knew that I wanted to feature her on my blog, and thankfully she agreed. She welcomed me into her home to catch a glimpse into her life with her husband Brian. Much like the sweet couple they are, their house is warm and cozy, showcasing their personality with sentimental tchotchkes and v cool vintage finds (Brian is very good at scoring cool stuff on FB marketplace).
With an abundance of natural light dancing through the windows and a fresh cup of coffee, the conversation began - what makes Rajni, Rajni?
RAJNI IN HER ELEMENT
Tell us about your inspiration behind Jungli Vintage and what inspired you to start curating vintage.
Jungli Vintage is a pop-up vintage clothing shop that I started in 2020 - and it was 100% a pandemic passion project that rescued me from the darkness. My brother gets credit for introducing me to thrifting and secondhand shopping.
Late in high school, I was visiting him in Boston and he took me to a shop where I could buy clothes cheap by the pound - and from there I was hooked! Over the years, I started visiting more second-hand boutiques and vintage shops and continually became inspired. It became a quiet wish of mine to open up a vintage shop one day. Finally, in 2020, a friend of mine and I were sitting in a park (6 feet apart), and I shared this dream with her. And she said..."Well, what's stopping you?" And that was that!
What does your ideal wardrobe look like? What are some must-staple pieces in your closet?
I've spent a lot of time experimenting with my wardrobe, and it's such a process to create a closet that feels good and authentic. The pieces I have on heavy rotation during the winter are a cozy knit maxi skirt, a pair of white leather boots by Paloma Wool that I baby to death, and a funky vintage sweater by Eagle's Eye that says "Eat Your Veggies"! In the summer, I love having easy maxi and mini dresses that I can just throw on with my ergonomic sandals.
Fast Fashion makes it easy for us to jump on trends and we ultimately end up looking the same. How did you find your personal style?
I was a fashion-obsessed kid. I was constantly changing my outfits, never mind the weather! I lived for trips to Kohl's with my mom and Target with my dad - trolling the clearance sections for deals. Summers visiting family in Bangalore meant exploring bangle shops and fabric stores - and I just couldn't get enough. I think I was told "Life isn't a fashion show" more times than I can remember. That sense of play has been instrumental even as an adult in helping me find my style.
Vintage and secondhand shopping, especially in my college days and through my 20s, was instrumental. It was the way I could afford to switch out pieces in my wardrobe without breaking the bank. In my 30s now, vintage has become a way to add elements of interest to my wardrobe and to buy things that were just made and built to last.
When sourcing what do you look for? What makes a piece a Jungli Vintage piece?
Jungli means "wild child" in Hindi - and I wanted to create a special curated vintage shop that featured specifically pieces that would be the "wildest" piece of clothing in someone's wardrobe; a shop filled with statement prints, unusual silhouettes, and funky colors. As the years have gone on, the curation has gotten more specific and frankly unhinged - funky, print-forward, and nerdy - and I wouldn't have it any other way! In my shop, you'll find vegetable sweaters, cherub print blazers, astrological blouses, and shrimp earrings. And I love the idea that whether someone has a minimalist aesthetic or something more eccentric - everyone can find something that brings out a wild streak in them from my shop.
RAJNI AT HOME
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
I am a morning person!
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
Black coffee - we always get our beans from Peregrine.
What is your drink of choice? Coffee, matcha, or tea?
Coffee in the morning, chai in the afternoon
What is the daily ritual that helps you get centered and started for the day? (i.e. a walk, journaling, scrolling online lol)
I love starting my day by having coffee with my husband Brian. I usually work evenings, so that time is sacred to us. After that, I usually go for a walk (either alone or with a pal) which is very grounding for me.
What is your favorite place in your home and what makes it so special?
I love our living room - we enjoy hosting tremendously and there's something about having people you love gathered in a cozy space that is just so special.
After a long day or time away from home, what do you most look forward to when getting home?
Cooking and connecting with our friends! Preferably simultaneously! I love cooking for people I love and trying new recipes. I enjoy eating out and traveling but there's nothing like being back in my kitchen experimenting.
How do you describe your interior design style?
Our interior design style is pretty eclectic. We love secondhand and vintage furniture and are Facebook Market Place fiends! Furniture-wise, I have equal love in my heart for Victorian-style pieces and MCM. I enjoy balancing different eras and styles - and tying them together with punchy pieces of art and funky tchotchkes.
Do you have any special objects of affection at home? What does it mean to you?
One Christmas, my husband surprised me with a gift. I opened it, and it was a beautiful ceramic vase with a pair of boobs. A booby pot if you will! He had discovered Rosegrown, this amazing small batch ceramist, and had waited for her latest drop and snapped one of these up. I was so touched because a) gift-giving isn't my husband's love language and b) this kooky and beautiful pot made me feel so seen. It is one of my favorite items in the house.
Rajni and That's So Vintage
Tell us about That’s So Vintage. How long you’ve been organizing it and how it came to fruition. What moved you to launch That’s So Vintage?
Unfortunately, for several reasons, DC does not have a big brick-and-mortar vintage scene. Pop-ups have been the way vintage businesses have continued to thrive in this city. I had always dreamed of a vintage market like the ones you see in L.A. and NYC coming to D.C - an opportunity for shops to have a beautifully curated space to vend and for the fashion-forward folks of D.C. to have a group of brick and mortars - even for a day - to shop from!
With the help of Union Market and my dear friend Amanda who used to have a business called Underground Goods, we called upon the vintage community in D.C. to help us organize the first That's So Vintage in February of 2023.
From my experience, That’s So Vintage is an incredibly successful event with a massive following - did it ever feel bigger than what you anticipated? Did it feel overwhelming and how did you rise to the challenge?
I'm so lucky to have an incredible community that has continued to help me make the event sustainable. I'm learning to delegate more, and to begin creating distinct roles so that I can create structure, and the talented members of my team can thrive.
Closing Notes
What is your dream goal with Jungli Vintage and That’s So Vintage?
One day, I'd love to create a rotating pop-up vintage collective; a business that hosts not only Jungli Vintage but the incredibly talented pop-up shops in D.C. on a rotational basis. That is for sure my "one-day" dream!
Any advice to anyone out there looking for community and or starting their own business?
Start before you're ready! Believe in your ability to learn from mistakes and grow from feedback. Do not take the word "no" personally.
What are some of your favorite small businesses in DC?
We are so fortunate to have such a high caliber of small businesses here in D.C. Here's my shortlist (which is by no means comprehensive)
She Loves Me - Flowers
Rose Ave - Pastries
Community Relics - Vintage Home Goods
Bold Fork Books - Cookbooks
Odd Provisions & Each Peach - Yummy Treats
Schneider's - Gem of a Bottle Shop in Capitol Hill
and of course, Well Rounded Shop :)
It seems like Rajni's community has fostered much of her persona. She credits her brother for her introduction to vintage, her family for finding her personal style and the encouragement of her close friends to jumpstart a movement. Perhaps, Rajni's gift to us isn't the market itself and the many opportunities they present, but rather the ripple effect of building communities among ourselves.
Find Rajni's collection of playful pieces through her IG account @jungli_vintage. Follow @theurbanjunglidc to learn of vintage pop-ups happening in DC through out the year! And,That's So Vintage returns this fall, check out @thatssovintagedc for updates.
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