Today we’d like to introduce you to Aisha Ortiz.
Hi Aisha, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story begins in Puerto Rico, where I was born and raised. Fashion, art, music, and culture have always influenced how I see the world. I’ve never viewed clothing as simply something to wear. For me, personal style has always been a form of storytelling, a reflection of identity, culture, and individuality.
My journey in fashion began in 2001, and by 2008, I had established myself professionally in Puerto Rico’s fashion and beauty industry. Over the years, my work has spanned editorial styling, makeup artistry, fashion journalism, television productions, and creative direction.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in Humanities from the University of Puerto Rico, Carolina Campus, and my master’s degree in Media and Contemporary Culture from Universidad del Sagrado Corazón. I later continued my fashion education at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, focusing on fashion styling and beauty.
In 2007, I began collaborating with photographer and art director Naomy Quiñones. We established Nao Nao Group in 2008, a creative partnership rooted in fashion, photography, beauty, and visual storytelling. That collaboration continues to be an important part of my creative work.
My career also took me into the corporate beauty industry, where I worked with MAC Cosmetics and across the Estée Lauder Companies’ portfolio of brands, contributing insights on customer service and providing translation support. Those experiences helped shape not only my creative perspective but also my understanding of brand identity, business, and the customer experience.
Following Hurricane Maria in 2017, I relocated from Puerto Rico to Virginia. It was one of the most difficult transitions of my life. Leaving the place where I grew up and rebuilding my life somewhere unfamiliar came with challenges I hadn’t anticipated. I had spent years establishing myself professionally in Puerto Rico, and suddenly I was navigating an entirely different environment, both personally and creatively.
A few years later, my best friend Lenia came to visit me in Virginia. We spent time exploring vintage stores, something we both loved doing. During one of those visits, we met two older women who were best friends and owned a vintage shop together.
Something about that encounter stayed with us. Here were two women who had turned their friendship and shared appreciation for vintage into a business. We saw something of ourselves in them, and it inspired us to imagine what we could create together.
That experience eventually became The Babygirl Vintage.
In 2023, Lenia and I co-founded The Babygirl Vintage, combining our love of fashion, individual style, and the idea of building something together despite living in different places. Lenia operates BGV in Puerto Rico, while I oversee our Virginia presence. We manage our respective operations independently but share the same brand identity, creative vision, and ideas. It’s a shared concept shaped by two perspectives and two communities.
The Babygirl Vintage specializes in curated vintage and contemporary designer fashion, with an emphasis on interesting silhouettes, quality pieces, and clothing that encourages individuality rather than conformity to trends. Inclusivity is equally important to us. We carry sizes from XS to plus because we believe personal style shouldn’t be limited by a size tag.
Building BGV in Virginia also became an unexpected part of my personal journey. After years of struggling to find my footing following my relocation, it was through pop-ups, vintage markets, and independent retail partnerships that I began connecting with the local creative community. That sense of belonging didn’t happen overnight. It took a year or two of consistently showing up, building relationships, and becoming part of the spaces and communities around me.
What began as a business venture helped me establish roots in Virginia in a way I hadn’t anticipated. I found myself connecting with fellow small-business owners, artists, designers, and people who shared my appreciation for individuality and creative expression.
Another significant part of my journey has been my role as a full-time family caregiver. Balancing that responsibility with entrepreneurship and a creative career has shaped how I approach both my personal and professional life. There are days when finding that balance is incredibly challenging, and I’ve had to learn that progress doesn’t always happen on the timeline we imagine for ourselves.
Building The Babygirl Vintage has allowed me to stay connected to my creative identity while navigating the responsibilities of caring for my family. It’s taught me to be more intentional with my time, more adaptable in how I work, and more appreciative of the relationships I’ve built along the way. I’m still learning how to balance it all, but I’ve come to recognize that success can look different at different stages of life.
Through all of this, my husband has been one of my greatest sources of support. From navigating major life transitions to balancing the demands of caregiving and entrepreneurship, he’s been by my side through every chapter. Building The Babygirl Vintage has required more than creativity and determination, and I know I wouldn’t have been able to pursue it without his encouragement, patience, and unwavering belief in me. While my name may be the one people associate with BGV in Virginia, there’s so much that happens behind the scenes, and his support has made an incredible difference in allowing me to continue doing what I love.
That growing sense of community has also opened doors to experiences beyond traditional retail. One of the highlights has been hosting MISS RVA Pinup at the Richmond Tattoo & Arts Convention, an event that celebrates vintage-inspired fashion, personal expression, and the creative energy of the tattoo community.
Today, I’m continuing to explore ways to bring my background in styling, creative direction, and visual storytelling into The Babygirl Vintage. I see the business as something that can evolve beyond retail through collaborations, creative projects, and experiences that bring people together.
Looking back, I never imagined that relocating to Virginia under such difficult circumstances would eventually lead me to building a business here with my best friend. In many ways, The Babygirl Vintage represents the intersection of everything I’ve experienced, from my early years in Puerto Rico and my career in fashion to discovering a new sense of community in Virginia.
What started with two best friends walking into a vintage store has grown into something neither of us could have predicted. And in many ways, we’re still those two girls exploring vintage shops, finding inspiration, and dreaming about what’s next.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think there’s such a thing as a completely smooth road when you’re building something of your own, and The Babygirl Vintage has certainly been a learning experience.
One of the biggest challenges has been navigating entrepreneurship while balancing my responsibilities as a full-time family caregiver. Unlike a traditional nine-to-five, running a small business doesn’t come with predictable hours. There’s sourcing, researching, pricing, photographing, merchandising, managing inventory, coordinating events, and the physical work of setting up and breaking down at markets. Much of that happens behind the scenes, long before anyone sees a beautifully curated rack of clothing.
Finding a balance between those responsibilities and caring for my family has required constant adjustments. I’ve had to become comfortable with the idea that growth isn’t always linear and that sometimes the most productive thing I can do is recognize my own limitations.
Another challenge has been establishing The Babygirl Vintage in a market where vintage fashion is sometimes viewed primarily through the lens of affordability rather than craftsmanship, design, or historical significance. My background in fashion has shaped the way I curate, and I’ve had to learn how to communicate the value of a carefully selected piece to an audience with different expectations.
Perhaps one of the biggest lessons has been learning that I don’t have to pursue every opportunity simply because it’s available. I’ve become more intentional about where I invest my time, the partnerships I build, and the experiences I want associated with The Babygirl Vintage.
It hasn’t always been easy, but I wouldn’t describe the challenges as setbacks alone. They’ve helped me become a more thoughtful business owner, a more adaptable creative, and someone who understands that building something meaningful takes patience.
I’m still learning, and I think that’s part of the process. Success isn’t always measured by how quickly something grows. Sometimes it’s about creating something sustainable, remaining true to your vision, and continuing to show up even when the road looks different from what you originally imagined.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Babygirl Vintage?
At The Babygirl Vintage, we specialize in curated vintage and contemporary designer fashion, with an emphasis on quality, individuality, and personal style. Our selection includes clothing, jewelry, handbags, watches, and accessories, each chosen with intention rather than simply filling a rack.
What makes our approach different is the relationship between fashion history and what’s happening on the runway today. My background in styling, editorial work, and creative direction influences the way I approach curation. I follow seasonal runway collections, emerging trends, and the ways designers revisit silhouettes, textures, and aesthetics from previous decades. Those influences shape my seasonal edits, allowing me to introduce vintage and designer pieces that feel relevant without losing their original character.
Rather than simply sourcing what’s vintage, I curate with an understanding of where fashion has been and where it’s going.
I approach every piece with a stylist’s eye, considering its construction, silhouette, versatility, and potential beyond the hanger. A beautifully tailored vintage blazer, an unexpected leather jacket, or a statement accessory can feel just as current as something coming down the runway. Fashion is constantly referencing itself, and I love connecting those influences across different eras.
We’re also intentional about how our pieces are presented. I don’t believe vintage should feel intimidating, overly nostalgic, or limited to one particular aesthetic. Mixing decades, designers, and contemporary styling creates something much more interesting. A piece doesn’t have to be worn exactly as it was originally intended to honor its history.
Accessories play an equally important role in our edits. From vintage jewelry and watches to modern statement pieces, handbags, and belts, we see them as essential styling elements. Sometimes the smallest detail completely changes the direction of an outfit.
Beyond the merchandise, I want shopping The Babygirl Vintage to feel like discovering a thoughtfully edited wardrobe rather than browsing through endless inventory. Every rack should offer a point of view, but leave enough room for customers to interpret the pieces through their own personal style.
What I’m most proud of is maintaining that creative identity as we’ve grown. We’re not interested in following every trend or expanding simply for the sake of expansion. Our focus remains on thoughtful curation, making vintage and designer fashion approachable, and creating genuine connections with the people who shop with us.
Ultimately, I want people to see vintage as part of the current fashion conversation, not something confined to the past. Great style doesn’t have an expiration date, and sometimes the most interesting piece in your wardrobe is one that already has a history.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I would say adaptability. Life rarely unfolds exactly as we imagine, and I’ve learned that being willing to evolve without losing sight of who you are is one of the most valuable qualities you can have.
Throughout my career, I’ve had to navigate different industries, creative environments, and unexpected changes in my personal life. Each experience has required me to rethink my approach, learn something new, and sometimes redefine what success looks like.
I think adaptability is particularly important in fashion. It’s an industry that’s constantly evolving, and while I appreciate trends and the creative energy they bring, I’ve learned the importance of developing a strong point of view rather than simply following what’s popular. Being adaptable doesn’t mean abandoning your vision. It means knowing how to evolve while staying true to it.
Entrepreneurship has reinforced that lesson. Not every opportunity works out as expected, and sometimes the best decisions come from recognizing when something needs to change. I’ve learned to be flexible with my plans, intentional with my energy, and open to possibilities I might not have considered before.
Perhaps most importantly, adaptability has allowed me to continue pursuing a creative life while navigating responsibilities that don’t always fit neatly into a traditional career path.
I don’t believe success comes from having everything figured out. For me, it’s about remaining curious, being willing to learn, and having the confidence to change direction without losing your sense of purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/babygirlvintage
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebabygirlvintage
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBabygirlVintage
