About us
Our story
Alte was born in a college dorm room out of a love of all things pretty and vintage. Pair that with a whole lot of chutzpah to make it happen and thats how Alte came to be.
Since June 2024, we've been creating a beautiful pink world of Alte Angels, breathing new life into beautiful vintage pieces and choosing to see the beauty in our world — even in the darkest of moments.
Our name
Alte is a Yiddish world meaning "old." It is most often used in the phrase "alte kocker," a humorous reference to an older individual. So, yes, our name literally means "old vintage" — how descriptive.
The use of Yiddish language is a tribute to our founder's ancestors, and all the other immigrants whose contributions to the U.S. garment industry have long been overlooked.
Our tagline, "celebrating the beauty of old," is a literal reference to our name, as well as a quote from a song written by our founder's grandmother which you can hear play throughout our website.
Our values
We are firm believers in promoting vintage fashion, not vintage values. We believe in inclusivity and representation. Alte is for all of us!
In a world where people are often required to abandon their femininity in order to garner respect, we encourage everyone to reclaim the beauty and strength that lies in femininity.
Sustainability is another one of our core values. In addition to giving clothes a new life with each sale we make, all orders are shipped in packaging made from 100% recycled materials.
Frequently asked questions
What is the return policy?
We accept returns in exchange for store credit on products in which the mistake is our own, including but not limited to improperly labeled measurements and major damage that was not noted. You will be responsible for the cost of shipping.
How long will my items take to ship?
Please allow 1-3 days for processing! You will get an update by email once your order has shipped. Because we try to get you the cheapest shipping option based on your location and the weight of your order, shipment times may vary.
Are all items in mint condition?
Because all items have lived a long life, they may not be in brand-new condition. However, we do whatever repairs possible to restore them closest to their original state. Any damage that is outside of our abilities to mend will be noted in the product description and accounted for in price.
Where are your items sourced?
Our garments are sourced from a variety of places, primarily estate sales and auctions. While a great deal of our sourcing is done virtually, any in-person sourcing is done in the New York City metropolitan area or Boston.
We are looking to increase the amount of direct buying we do. If you have a collection or pieces you are looking to offload, get in contact with us via our contact page.
How do you determine pricing?
Our pricing is dynamic and frankly, something we are just starting to get the hang of after over a year in operation! Prices are determined by the cost to source, anticipated demand/market value, rarity of an item, brand label, item condition, item age, and so much more. For pieces that require extensive repairs, an hour of minimum wage pay is added for each hour of labor. We seek to be transparent about how every single piece is priced. If you have questions about a specific item's price, feel free to reach out on our contact form or our Instagram direct messages.