Good People of vitruta: Eddie Wailes

Great to have you here, Eddie! Let’s kick things off with our usual opener: How would you describe yourself to someone who doesn’t know you? Who is Eddie? Where did it all start, what have you done, and where are you now?

Hey vitruta! I’d describe myself as a connector —definitely someone open and always following new experiences, whether that's personally or professionally.

I was lucky to grow up with two super creative parents—who both worked in commercial fashion. I didn't follow the same path, but I've always been inspired by their world.

I knew pretty early on that university wasn’t for me, so I leaned into what I loved—buying and selling vintage clothing. That passion took me all the way to Tokyo, sourcing unique pieces, and led to a pop-up with Merci in Paris back in 2018. That’s really where things kicked off for me.

Since then, I’ve worked on collaborative projects with brands like Paul Smith, Ralph Lauren, and Boucheron, which has been amazing. Right now, I’m steering back toward photography—shooting editorials and covering events. blending everything I’ve picked up along the way creatively.

You’ve been called a stylist, curator, and collector—yet none of those fully contain what you do. How would you define your practice today?

That’s something I struggle with answering even today, but I believe that to be a good thing. Exploring multiple avenues of interests definitely develops my outlook on my future work. I want to utilize my skills across multiple creative disciplines to create more visual work—with photography being the main focus.

Finding rare pieces and tracing their stories is central to what you do. What draws you to these kinds of objects—and how do you know when something’s “worth chasing”?

I find it very important carrying on stories of pieces and objects, giving them a new lease of life. Usually it's a pieces character that will draw me in particular.

It doesn’t necessary have much to do with monetary value, I’m drawn to things I won’t be able to find again. I find it special when people also see individuality in vintage, that can’t be replicated.

Your approach to (styling) isn’t just about fashion—it feels more archival, even anthropological. Do you see your work as a form of storytelling?

When dressing clients, or working on a project in a similar capacity. The most important thing for me is really getting to know the person. I see clothing as a reflection of who you are—what you’re into, what you care about, how you see yourself. If I can help someone feel more themselves through how they dress, that gives me a huge amount of joy.

You’ve created intimate pop-ups in Paris, Amsterdam, and vitruta London. What do these physical encounters mean to you?

Meeting new people and bringing my community together is something I really value. After living in London for six years, my evening with vitruta felt like the perfect moment to gather the amazing people I've met along the way.

There’s nothing more special, putting people you love in a room & everyone coming together and sharing so much similarity and difference. It's those moments of genuine connection that really stay with me.

The in-store evening at vitruta London had such a distinct tone—part nostalgia, part introspection. What was your vision when shaping that night?

It started with the people—thinking about who would genuinely benefit from connecting with each other. Having been to so many events myself, I knew I wanted to create an atmosphere people would actually want to be in. That meant putting real thought into the flow of the night—with the music being the main concentration. It was all about setting a memorable tone.

You often blend eras and styles. How do you think about timelessness and contradiction in what you wear?

Everything I wear links back to a certain time in my life. I grew up in the BMX scene, which was a huge part of who I was when I was younger. I wore Vans every day—even to school. Wearing them now feels like an ode to that chapter of my life. I like mixing different styles because they represent different parts of me, past and present. It never feels like a contradiction!

As someone who chose hands-on learning over fashion school, what do you think the industry still doesn’t teach—or understand—about real style and commerce?

Style is formed personally in my opinion, you can’t teach taste & it is always unique per individual. My style evolved from in person experience & traveling.

Not that I can speak from experience but it seems to me that the education system doesn’t concentrate enough on getting students ready to deal with navigating the industry.

You’ve seen the reselling space evolve rapidly, even become saturated. What keeps you passionate, and how do you stay ahead without chasing the hype?

Although I’m turning away from reselling as much, I still source for myself when visiting home in SW France. I’m always on the hunt in French charities, expanding my collection even into homeware.

You mentioned being influenced by Japan’s fashion culture and how people live their style there. How has travel shaped your creative eye and business approach?

Seeking inspiration outside of what you know is the best way to shape your creative eye, leaving my comfort zone at 18 and going to Hong Kong and Tokyo did that for me. Especially at that age, it certainly guided me in the right direction. It led me to realize I definitely wanted to lead a free, creative, social lifestyle as the forefront of what I do.

You’ve said that you don't post a lot of your personal life on Instagram—but that everything you do is real. What does authenticity look like to you, online and offline?

Authenticity looks like doing things you really enjoy doing, but not needing to show everyone. Whilst it is key to building a platform, In recent years I’ve found a lot more solace and peace away from the pressure of social media.

And finally… What comes to mind when you think of “vitruta” and “Good People”? It could be anything—a brand, a neighbourhood, a person, a colour, or an event.

vitruta, being from Istanbul, reminds me of Yeşilköy, where my dad used to live a decade ago. Me and my family spent so much time over there. It reminds me of a special time in my life & the beautiful city of Istanbul.

You can click here to see the products Eddie Wailes used and chose in the shoot.