Slowing Down with Saint Paloma: Steven Vega of Eveready Vintage
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Written by Britt Phillips
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Written by Britt Phillips
Steven Vega of Eveready Vintage
A legend among us - Steven Vega has over two decades in the garment industry and continues to be a force in the vintage community. With impeccable style, taste and a deep love for his community - Steven is a constant inspiration and creative force.
Who are you? Where are you from?
Steven Vega and I reside in a quaint little beach town of Long Beach, California.
Any daily practices or rituals?
Meditation, Beach runs, and always start my day with Jazz or any volume of the East Side Story compilation albums. Run it.
Describe your style in 3 words? Daily uniform?
Authentic, Timeless, and MY OWN. Jeans, a weathered punk or tattoo shop t shirt, and my beloved 1975 Date Just Rolex.
Fav song or album on repeat?
Impossible to answer but here has been my starting five for the last month or so. Music over everything.
Ralfi Pagan - Make It With You
Barbara Lynn - You’ll Lose A Good Thing
Kendrick Lamar - Not Like Us
The Stooges - I Wanna Be Your Dog
Momma - Lucky
Reading or watching anything interesting?
Been reading a ton of Ginsberg Poetry lately and I hardly ever watch television unless it’s you tube videos of interviews/performances by musicians at the crib-o.
How or when were you first introduced to vintage?
Early to mid 90’s when momma would drag me into stores all up and down melrose ave, and local flea markets here in southern California.
Who or what inspires you?
Birds flying in the air, the sun hitting the pacific ocean with that epic glare, the joy in people’s faces while mobbing the beach, my friends and family who push me to be better daily, and music always.
Any hobbies?
Play basketball religiously here at the beach. The competitive spirit keeps me sane. So many hobbies and very little time, but the key is to “make” the time. One life, once chance. Ceramics, rock climbing, and drum lessons will be starting up here very soon and I’m amped up about it. I just love living life, we only get to do this once.
What’s exciting you right now?
Some upcoming travel to see the homies and a ton of shows coming here to LA in September/October. Live for music.
To be completely honest though, it’s the subtle things daily that keep me excited for real. Laughing, grabbing tacos with friends, being goofy and just living.
Living in a strange time right now where everyone is stressed out, so I like to keep it light and be the glue to bring people together, keeping the moods positive.
Where do you see yourself & business in the next 5 years?
Been itching to move, but it is so so special here that it may be difficult to do so. Nothing better than living by the water in my humble opinion. I really love Morro Bay, and Lake Tahoe. Maybe some short term moves I can do until I retire either in Puerto Rico or South of France.
I believe in staying in the moment and being present daily, but also have a keen eye for my future.
Business side of things, I am in the midst of landing a showroom here in Long Beach or DTLA here by years end. Hope to continue to work with more tv/film while I’m getting after it and just running a successful business year after year.
Putting a tad more focus on my brand as rare vintage is getting tougher and tougher to source, even though I am not after what most of my peers are seeking. I love creating and firing on all cylinders making things. Should be a strong emphasis moving forward with E.V. merch and so on.
More events/pop ups all over the country with friends, and giving people the best of E.V. and what I have to offer is always the main agenda. Running a business is very difficult on your own, but I am extremely fortunate that the world believes in my lens to allow me to do this everyday. Super grateful, and not a day goes by I don’t remind myself of that.
