Growing up, Katriel cites his parents for inspiring his interest in fashion. His dad is an R&B musician with a flair for good style and his grandmother was a whiz on the sewing machine. His parents were also excellent cooks. In high school, Katriel studied the culinary arts and had the chance to work with chefs in Las Vegas. While he loved the artistic aspect of plating food and the way that his dishes would delight customers, he ultimately decided that fashion was his true love.

Originally a sneakerhead with a self-described 90s Fresh Prince-inspired style, he now takes inspiration from Jimi Hendrix, Lenny Kravitz and the 1970s. “I’m a sneakerhead at heart,” he says, “but a boot guy on the feet.” He still has a collection of more than 50 sneakers, with prized possessions like a pair of Air Jordan 1s from 1985 (the first Jordan ever made) and Kendrick Lamar Cortez’s, but his style now is more runway. Think 1970s vintage, Western styles, square toes, loafers and boots. “Being bold with fashion,” he says, “is one of the reasons why fashion is what it is. Be different. Make something out of nothing. Make it yours… I never want to look like somebody else.” When it comes to styling or creating the perfect photograph, Katriel recommends spontaneity. “If you see anything around you, take advantage of it. Step outside of your comfort zone. Put something on that you’re not comfortable with and see people’s reaction.”

Katriel has been working at Buffalo since June of 2019. He loves the way that the job teaches you about a wide variety of styles. With such a diverse staff, as well, you not only get to see the styles – you get to see how people wear them. He also loves talking to customers and finding just the right piece for them. “Just have fun,” he says. “Of course you have to work hard and get your job done, but if you’re not having fun, then the customers won’t have fun. The rest of the staff won’t have fun.”

By Estrella Sevilla Meza

In honor of Father’s day, I wanted to introduce you all to my awesome dad and his fun sense of
style. This is my dad, Jose. Ever since I can remember, he would wear Hawaiian shirts, Levi
jeans, boots, white sneakers, hats and Ray-Ban sunglasses.

I’ve always enjoyed going shopping with him – and sometimes I even get a shirt or two and
shoes while I shop with him! A fun fact about the two of us: we’re both over 6 feet tall and we
both wear the same size shoes. So, unlike most daughters that share shoes and clothes with
their mom, I share with my dad. I often take style inspiration from him.

Happy Father’s Day to my dad, Jose!

Looking for ways to support your community while sustainably updating your wardrobe for summer? Have no fear – Buffalo Exchange Tokens for Bags® is here! When you make a purchase at any of our locations, we skip the single-use plastic bag and hand you a 5-cent token instead. Drop your token into a box for one of four local non-profits in your area. We support a new round of non-profits every six months. Read on for some of the great organizations in our stores now through the end of June! Don’t see your city listed below? Find out about the non-profits sponsored by your local Buffalo at BuffaloExchange.com/Tokens-For-Bags-Charities.

Arizona Wildlife Federation in Tempe

Help out your local Wildlife Federation next time you shop at Buffalo Exchange Tempe! The Arizona Wildlife Federation is a non-partisan, science-based non-profit protecting wildlife and their habitats through education, inspiration, advocacy and action.

Shoal Creek Conservancy in Austin

Hey Austin! Heading to Buffalo soon? Support the Shoal Creek Conservancy by dropping a token in their box when you make a purchase. Shoal Creek Conservancy champions the Shoal Creek Watershed in Austin, TX. Through volunteer workdays, educational tours, water quality improvements and trail projects, they work with the community to make Shoal Creek healthier and more welcoming for all.

Outdoor Outreach in San Diego

Support youth in your community at Buffalo Exchange San Diego (Pacific Beach). Since 1999, Outdoor Outreach has empowered youth through transformative outdoor experiences. More than simply removing barriers to outdoor access, their programs provide space for youth to overcome challenges, build positive relationships and find confidence in their power to make a difference in their lives and their communities.

Woodhull Foundation in Brooklyn

Support freedom of sexual expression through the Woodhull Foundation when you shop at Buffalo Exchange Brooklyn! Freedom of sexual expression between consenting adults is a fundamental human right and that’s the work of Woodhull Freedom Foundation. Woodhull is a national organization working at the intersection of sexual and human rights. 

Water.org in Kansas City

Make a difference in someone’s life by helping to provide access to water through Water.org next time you buy, sell and trade at Buffalo Exchange Kansas City! Water.org is an international nonprofit organization that has positively transformed millions of lives around the world with access to safe water and sanitation through affordable financing. 

Neighborhood House in Portland

Hey PDX! Help out low income individuals at the Neighborhood House when you make a purchase at Buffalo Exchange in Downtown Portland. The Neighborhood House is a leading Portland-non-profit social service provider, delivering innovative, life-changing programs for low-income people of all ages and backgrounds. Their programs strive to prepare children for success in school and life, help families move beyond poverty and support seniors who wish to continue living independently.

House of Tulip in New Orleans

Support trans and gender non-conforming people through the House of Tulip at Buffalo Exchange New Orleans. House of Tulip is a Black, trans-led 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides permanent housing to trans and gender non-conforming (TGNC) people while also providing the safety, security and guidance they will need to pursue their education, become employed and eventually become homeowners.

The Gentle Barn in LA

Make a difference in someone’s life by supporting the fuzzy friends at The Gentle Barn when you stop into Buffalo Exchange Melrose. The Gentle Barn is a national nonprofit organization, founded in 1999 as a safe haven and place of recovery for severely abused animals. The Gentle Barn offers their unique philosophy of rehabilitating animals and connecting their stories of survival and healing to the personal experiences of inner city, at-risk and special needs children who have suffered physical, mental or emotional trauma.

School on Wheels in Ventura

Help out students in your local area through School on Wheels next time you shop at Buffalo Exchange Ventura. School on Wheels provides free tutoring and mentoring to children from kindergarten through twelfth grade living in shelters, motels, vehicles, group foster homes and the streets of Southern California.

Since starting our Tokens for Bags® program in 1994, Buffalo Exchange has raised over $803,000 for thousands of local nonprofit organizations and kept over 16.06 million plastic bags out of the environment. Thanks for being a part of that and supporting your local community by shopping locally & sustainably! Stop into your local Buffalo to shop and support non-profits in your area or book an appointment to sell.

Just like the weather, summer style trends are coming in hot! As the temps warm up, it looks like there’s a new trend to add to your moodboard every day. To take some of the guesswork out of what to shop for this summer, we’ve compiled a short but mighty list of summer styles to liven up your wardrobe (Spoiler alert: all of these trends can be found at your local Buffalo Exchange!). Scroll through for our top picks on what to wear this summer.

Get into the Groove-y Florals

Florals are ubiquitous year-round, and summer is no exception. Switch out your modern prints for throwback 90s-does-70s florals in bold, bright colors. Bonus points for grungy baby-doll silhouettes or tres chic suit tailoring!

Mesh-Dressed

Ah, the ultimate summer dressing dilemma: full coverage or breathability? Enjoy the best of both  worlds with semi-sheer, long-sleeved mesh shirts in your pick of patterns. When it comes to prints, we say: the bolder, the better!

Y2K All Day

This one’s for all the zillennials out there! Inspired by the years between the late nineties and early aughts, Y2K style is back with tube dresses, graphic pants and kitschy accessories that would make even Zenon jealous.

Par for the Corset 

Shapewear as everyday style has been around for a while (think compressive bike shorts styled for daily wear with tees or blazers), and the corset trend shows no sign of slowing down. Give major Bridgerton vibes with ivory satin or go punk rock with vegan leather and heavy-metal buckles!

Totally Twinning

As we’re able to reconnect irl with our bffs, coordinating outfits will be huge! Be it minimalist neutral sets, streetwear tees and cargos or Clueless-inspired plaid skirts and cropped tees, there’s a look out there perfectly tailored for your dynamic duo.

Fresh Fruit Fashion

Our last summer style trend is a sweet one: retro-inspired fruit prints! This juicy trend is perfect for summer and can easily be found in a range of styles, from pineapple-print sets to cherry embroidered dresses.

Feeling inspired to shop? Don’t fill that online cart just yet — we haven’t gotten to our favorite summer trend: shopping sustainably! When you shop secondhand at your local Buffalo Exchange, you’re playing a major role in keeping clothing out of landfills. Plus, you’ll be able to find all of these summer styles (plus more!) for a fraction of the cost. Oh, and let’s not forget that when you sell your closet cleanout at Buffalo Exchange, you can choose between cash or trade — that means that the cost of your new look could be totally covered by the things you weren’t wearing anyway! To learn more about how to sell and schedule an appointment today, check out our ‘How to Sell’ blog here. We can’t wait to see you in our store!