What started as a way to give friends personalized gifts that suited their personalities and his wallet, has turned into a micro-business for author  Stan Williams.  Utilizing his skills as an “Elegant” thrift shopper, Stan has turned vintage finds into one of-a-kind keepsakes called Hooch Bags.

What is a Hooch Bag?

A Hooch Bag is a vintage bag selected by me, The Elegant Thrifter, that is  a naughty-but-nice offering of cash to burn, a little sinful sweet to eat, a nip of booze and other surprises.

What inspires a Hooch?
A Hooch Bag is inspired by the bag itself, even though they all contain some of the same elements. Each bag also has a name. So for instance, Eve may look all innocent and virginal until you look in her bag and discover a nip of gin and a pack of candy cigarettes!

Your process for creating a Hooch?
I scour thrift stores, flea markets and garage sales for bags that are interesting to me, fill them with hooch, package them all pretty with ribbons and vintage surprises and just wait for the fun to begin.

How did you start making these and why?

I started making these bags as gifts for friends. I am short on cash these days, so I picked up a vintage bag for a hostess gift (WHICH is a dying courtesy that needs to be revived, by the way) and decided it wasn’t just enough to offer it the way it was, even though it was beautiful, so I hooched it up.

How does one happen upon a Hooch?
I take special orders for occasions like Valentine’s Day, Mothers Day, bridal parties, baby showers, engagements, special birthdays, corporate gifts — hey, anybody who wants to buy my hooch!

You can catch Stan at the Brooklyn Flea Popup Market in Dumbo this Saturday. http://www.hoochbags.blogspot.com/

Stan Williams:
The Elegant Thrifter and author of The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating with Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details to be published by Clarkson Potter in May.