SovietHomeStuff
Announcement
We have returned to Ukraine to help our country regrow and rebuild, and you can help by shopping with our reliable Ukrposta which still works perfectly (items transit via Poland). Also, check out our original design streetwear shop that ships from US/EU worldwide! www.etsy.com/shop/InkybrainStudio #StandWithUkraine
Items
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Reviews
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Deanna on Dec 26, 2022
5 out of 5 starspretty quick shipping considering. Good assortment of candy. Got some compliments from family!
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Dan on Jan 29, 2023
5 out of 5 starsSo helpful, even reminded me to pick it up at the post office when it came. Everything was as expected or better -- Thanks
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Kristy on Jan 29, 2023
5 out of 5 starsSuch a cool book. Arrived in great condition and arrived in a timely manner considering the circumstances.
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electricworks on Jan 26, 2023
5 out of 5 starsExcellent garment. My stripes game is now undeniable.
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electricworks on Jan 26, 2023
5 out of 5 starsEverything arrived in excellent shape. Very happy with my treasures!
About SovietHomeStuff
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No flea market in Odesa is complete without a cat or two in the mix! -
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This treasure from Paris sat in suitcase unopened after passing customs in Batumi, Georgia during the revolution. -
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We love to give new life to practical and quality made Soviet Home Stuff, hence our name! -
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And of course, we love finding the unusual and playful to lighten up your life. -
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And the newest addition to our "shelves" this winter are vintage Soviet Christmas ornaments from the 50s and 60s!
Sharing the joys of the past with the world today.
We're Jeff and Nataly, and we love to travel Eastern Europe looking for interesting items to share with our friends and customers like you from around the world! From lovely kitsch decor to vintage toys and rare Soviet collectibles, (and the occasional Western goodie that found its way behind the Irony Curtain), you are sure to find a treasure to enjoy here!
It all began for me (Jeff) as a little boy, going with my pops to the swap meets looking for old things to "trade up" for better stuff and to sell the things we didn't need or couldn't swap. Later, in my early 20s, starting with a 1940s washing machine I found, I fixed it and sold it in an antique mall, and used the proceeds to buy two cabinets at auction. It started me on a picking and flipping path that put me through college, as I started in earnest selling thrift shop finds, the contents of storage auctions and yard sales, and taking extensive road trips scouring the great Pacific Northwest for vintage collectibles to sell back in LA and San Francisco
Years later, after a career in advertising agencies and publishing houses in Europe and Asia, I met a wonderful woman by the name of Nataly from the Black Sea port city of Odesa. Long story short, we married each other as soul mates often do.
One day while shopping for produce in Odesa's famous Pryvoz Market, we came across a huge 1700s Russian brass mortar and pestle and threw it onto an online marketplace where it sat for some time. Nataly was totally convinced that it wouldn't sell. I was 100 percent sure. When it finally sold, she gave me a big smile. She is still smiling, but now her smile is much more enthusiastic because within a short time she got involved in the store’s trading process on a full-time basis with a real passion, as both a picker and our photographer.
We’ve always had a fascination with things from days gone by because you can really feel the soul of them. Like music, you can feel the vibrations of an item... it's like Animism, the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence, and just holding something from the past can have a real effect on you. It has been our great joy to discover the spirit of things in objects from behind the former Iron Curtain, and Nataly now has a deeper appreciation for the things she grew up with.
The stories some of our sources share with us about their items, really reaches the deepest parts of our being, like the elderly man who grew up in a Russian arctic city, selling us Christmas ornaments from his childhood because there was no one left to pass them on to and he wants them to go where they will bring joy... it means that it is up to us to help them on their journey to others who will treasure these items as well.
During our time on Etsy, we have met many great people from many countries around the world. With every purchase, they have shared this journey to different worlds and different times which only a vintage item can transport you to.
We can only do this right with a proper understanding of the importance of customer service, which is something we also really enjoy, the same as we love finding beautiful vintage pieces and putting them on a new path in life.
Thank you for joining us on this journey of discovery!
Shop members
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Jeff
Owner, Shipper, Curator
Owner, picker, Copywriter, and Graphic Designer: Originally hailing from the West Coast, I've been living in Asia and Europe since the mid-1990s.
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Nataly
Owner, Photographer, Curator
Owner, picker, Auction Boss, and Photographer: A native of Odesa, Ukraine, I've long been fascinated with the artifacts of the Soviet past.
Production partners
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Konfety
Ukraine
producers of the candy assortment for the mix box.
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Marfy
Italy
Pattern maker and printer
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Printful
Chatsworth, CA
Production and shipping fulfilment partner for our graphic apparel items.
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Ukrainian Ceramics
Ukraine
The partner produces ceramics for our customers.
Shop policies
Shipping
Customs and import taxes
Payment options
Returns & exchanges
Cancellations
Cancellations: not accepted
Please contact the seller if you have any problems with your order.
Privacy policy
More information
Frequently asked questions
Terms of Sales
Please be aware that in almost all cases 'used items' might show general signs of age related wear and tarnishing and thus will very rarely look brand new. All obvious faults beyond general age related wear and tarnishing will be pointed out to the buyer in the description, which is worth reading in full to avoid disappointment. Our photos are taken to give the buyer a realistic 'visual description' of the item/items on offer. With this in mind please note that the 'actual' dimensions of the items are shown directly in the description to ensure your satisfaction.
Should any problems occur during our transaction please contact us first before leaving feedback so we can assist you in resolving any issues you may have.