Why it matters: Founded in 2012 by local brothers Zac and Josh Hembry as a way to earn extra money at university, Messina Hembry now employs over 100 staff and operates from a 50,000 sq ft Ipswich warehouse housing more than 500,000 vintage clothing items.
The details: The brothers began their venture by spending weekends trawling charity shops for designer pieces, buying items they thought were interesting or well-made before listing them online.
After graduating, they spotted a growing market for sustainable, high-quality vintage fashion and took the business full-time.
The company now sells handpicked vintage clothes through their website and major online retailers including eBay and Vinted, shifting over 10,000 items weekly to more than one million customers worldwide.
What they're saying: Zac Hembry, the company's CEO, said: "This all started really simply, just trying to earn a bit of extra money while at university. Josh and I would spend weekends trawling charity shops for designer pieces, buying what we thought was interesting or well-made, and then listing them online."
"At first, it was more of a hobby than a business. We just enjoyed finding cool, unique items and making a little cash along the way," he added. "After a while, we started noticing that people were genuinely interested in the pieces we were selling. That's when it clicked that there was a real opportunity here."
Good for business, good for the planet: The business specialises in second-hand clothes that are well-made, timeless, and hold their value. Each item must meet strict criteria covering brand, product type, construction quality, and material before earning a place in the collection.
Josh Hembry, the company's COO, said, "Sustainability isn't just a trend for us - it's the foundation of the business. The fashion industry is one of the most polluting in the world, and we wanted to prove that there's a better way."
"Every piece we resell means one less new garment being made, and while that might not sound like much on its own, when you're talking thousands of items, it really adds up," he added.
The personal touch: The name Messina Hembry, taken from the brothers' family tree, gave the brand a distinctive identity that set it apart from other second-hand retailers. Their growing team now includes specialists in everything from quality control to cleaning and repairs, ensuring all pieces are high-quality and genuine.
What's next: Looking ahead, Zac said: "We're focused on growing sustainably, investing in technology and streamlining our operations so we can keep expanding without losing sight of what matters most. Our goal is simple - to become the number one destination for vintage and second-hand fashion, while continuing to make a positive impact on the environment."
The bottom line: From humble beginnings hunting bargains in charity shops, the Hembry brothers have built a vintage fashion powerhouse that proves sustainable business practices and commercial success can go hand in hand.
