Meet the Vendor
Assassin Vintage is a killer business name but owners Tammy Heet and Kay Miller also slay with the vintage merchandise! Check out Booth 52A at The Hill Antique Market to shop ready-to-wear men’s and women’s vintage clothing and accessories from the early 1900s through the 1980s as well as unique home goods.
The Hill Antique Market: How does your friendship inspire your business partnership?
Heet/Miller: We are just two friends with a passion for cool vintage. Over the years, we have discovered we both enjoy swing dancing, honkytonks, rockabilly shows, Lone Star beer, authentic Mexican food and that Dale Watson holds a special place in our hearts. Tammy’s groove spans the ’60s and ’70s, dabbling into the ’80s, with a passion for premium polyester and funky style. Kay favors fashions from the 1930s through the ’50s, with a true passion for vintage western wear. Together, we span the eras and offer a curated collection of vintage clothing and accessories at Assassin Vintage.
THAM: Before we dive into your fab merchandise, tell us about the killer name of your biz and how the venture got started.
Heet/Miller: Killer Vintage came to mind when we were naming the business, but Jimmy Griffin’s music shop had already claimed that name. We started brainstorming other words for “killer,” then Tammy threw out the word “assassin,” and Kay said, “That’s it!”
Before we opened Assassin Vintage, Tammy worked for over 10 years at Anthropologie, where it was a delight to style people, dress mannequins to inspire and help people find their niche. That experience has helped in the purchasing of unique, vintage pieces.
Kay ran Pixie9 Vintage on Cherokee Street from 2000-2007. After closing the shop, she put things in storage and began working at Anthropologie, which is where she met Tammy. Kay would do an occasional vintage clothing show and Tammy helped out. Kay tried numerous times to talk Tammy into working together on a vintage business, but Tammy resisted until 2019, when Assassin Vintage was formed.
THAM: What are your merchandise specialties?
Heet/Miller: We sell men’s and women’s clothing and accessories from the early 1900s through the 1980s. We also carry unique, quirky, unusual home goods. We take pride in selling quality merchandise that is ready to wear or be placed in your home.
THAM: How did you first develop an interest in antiques and vintage wares?
Heet/Miller: Ever since Tammy was a young girl, she appreciated the quality, tailoring and fabric of vintage clothes. Her grandparents had few clothes but they were meant to last and they took special care to preserve them. She feels the same today in that she loves extending the life of pieces and helping them find a special place in a modern wardrobe. Often, that means special cleaning or mending and then styling it in a way that is approachable…but that’s all part of the fun.
Kay has been thrifting since the late 1980s and has always bought home goods and clothing that caught her eye, whether they fit or not. Thinking back, she realizes that her maternal grandfather was a junk picker. He always had interesting old things in a shed behind his house that Kay loved wandering through.
THAM: Do you have personal collections?
Heet/Miller: Tammy’s personal passion is for printed polyester blouses, especially if they have a pussy bow. She loves the printed fabric of the ’70s. She is also a bit of a boot addict and is a fan of funky, comfortable shoes. She covets John Fluevog designs.
Kay loves vintage western wear, Mexican souvenir jackets, and Pendleton 49er jackets. She doesn’t really have a collection of one certain thing, but collects things that catch her eye, including scary bunnies, weird dolls and amateur portraits.
THAM: What do you enjoy most about being a vendor?
Heet/Miller: We love being able to merchandise a space that lasts for more than a long weekend. We are also happy to make vintage goods that won’t go into the Etsy shop available for in-person shoppers. We have missed the opportunity to sell in person at vintage clothing shows and popup events, but we’ve been able to grow our inventory amid COVID-19.
THAM: What’s your favorite feature of The Hill Antique Market?
Heet/Miller: The space itself is so inviting and has an array of unique and eclectic vendors whose interesting merchandising draws you into their space. Also, not many markets have such an array of vintage clothing dealers. It’s a great addition to St. Louis for finding vintage clothing, accessories and unique items for your home.
