Eden Pritikin, a 24-year-old fashion enthusiast, has made a name for herself as one of the leading collectors of Nicholas Ghesquière’s Balenciaga. Her journey into the world of high fashion began unexpectedly, fueled by a chance encounter with an iconic Spring 2003 scuba-print top.
Growing up in Chicago, Pritikin didn’t have fashion as a central part of her childhood. Her friend’s mom had a pair of Louboutin heels, and she would let her try them on. It wasn’t until she got to high school that she started getting into high fashion and began blogging about her deep expression and love for fashion.
FORM: How did you get into collecting vintage designer pieces? Was there a specific collection or piece that mesmerized you to start your journey in the vintage designer realm?
PRITIKIN: When I was in high school and had this Tumblr blog, I took it upon myself to give myself a fashion education. This included going through the style.com archives, studying every major fashion designer’s shows from the past 10 years. One collection that truly stood out to me was Balenciaga’s Spring 2003 collection with its jungle prints. It wasn’t until I was in college, visiting New York, that I encountered Prince for the first time. Seeing his work was simply mesmerizing, sparking my passion for collecting vintage Balenciaga pieces. I embarked on a mission to find these rare items, conducting research to uncover what was out there.
Nicolas Ghesquière’s Balenciaga became Pritikin obsession. She compared every other brand to his pieces and found nothing quite matched the emotional impact she felt when encountering his designs. The Spring 2003 collection, in particular, left an indelible mark on her. High-waisted scuba pants and short cropped scuba tops caught her eye, showcasing Ghesquière’s avant-garde vision. The jungle print from that collection, reminiscent of Henri Rousseau’s famous painting “The Sleeping Gypsy,” captivated her. Little did she know that the print originated from the Secret Garden at The Mirage in Las Vegas, where visitors could swim with dolphins.
FORM: What is your favorite collection or season from a designer, and why do they mean so much to you as a vintage collector?
PRITIKIN: Well, my favorite Balenciaga collection is obviously Spring 2003, but another non-Balenciaga favorite would be Alexander McQueen’s Jumanji Spring 2000. I absolutely loved that show and the collection. The sporty aspect and its uniqueness compared to everything else at the time stood out. The show itself was incredibly cool to watch—I find myself revisiting it on YouTube about once a month. The models on risers with the wind blowing through their ponytails created such a dramatic and chic effect.
Growing up in Chicago, Pritikin desire to live in New York was unwavering. The bustling city offered endless inspiration, and her move there allowed her to fully immerse herself in the fashion world. Today, Pritikin passion for collecting vintage Balenciaga pieces reflects her journey from Chicago to London to New York—a journey fueled by curiosity, education, and emotional connections to fashion.
FORM: If there's one thing that you could tell younger you, what would it be?
PRITIKIN: That I am on a very specific path, and then I’ll make it to New York one day, even if there are obstacles in between.
FORM: How do you think the resell market has changed since vintage designer pieces have become more prevalent in today's fashion world?
PRITIKIN: I think the market is currently super inflated, and there’s so much more supply than there is demand. However, the prices haven’t necessarily reflected the change in demand. I believe that around 2014-2015, the vintage market started to become more accepted, and people really began to look for vintage items. Since then, the demand has shot up. But as demand increased, vintage sellers caught onto this trend, and their prices overshot what the demand warranted. This turned a lot of people off from the vintage market because suddenly things were selling for astronomical prices, making it feel like they were being cheated in some way. However, I also disagree with the notion that vintage equals cheaper. If you consider the quality of production now, the materials being used are of worse quality compared to production 20 years ago. Therefore, prices should reflect both the quality of a piece and its rarity.
Pritikin’s story exemplifies how passion can unexpectedly emerge and shape one’s life. Her love for vintage Balenciaga, despite not being a fan of Demna’s Balenciaga, serves as a testament to the profound influence of art, creativity, and personal connection in the world of fashion.
