The Loope- From Hauls to Hustle
EDITION 1
Hailey Young
10/30/20252 min read
Cover Design by Ryan Carter
The Loope- From Hauls to Hustle
By Hailey Young
On a college campus, fashion is more than just self-expression — between vintage game-day sweatshirts, curated date-party looks, and effortless classroom outfits, students are constantly reinventing trends in real time. But what happens when one student turns that love for fashion into a thriving business? Meet Riley Neville, 21-year-old founder of The Loope and Vice President of Marketing for The Michigan Marketing Collective.
From books to business, Riley has found a way to merge classroom theory with creative entrepreneurship. A business major with dreams of working in the fashion industry, she’s already built an impressive foundation in secondhand retail and sustainable marketing. Her passion began years ago, before The Loope had an official name. “I’ve always had a business mindset,” she said. “Even in middle school, I was selling clothes out of my locker.” What started as a casual side hustle evolved into a full-fledged brand that helps others express themselves through carefully sourced vintage pieces.
The Loope’s mission is simple: to make curated vintage fashion accessible and exciting. (1) Its target audience includes anyone who wants to elevate their style uniquely, without spending hours digging through thrift stores, rummage sales, or online marketplaces. “I do the hard part so my customers don’t have to,” Riley explained. “They can focus on finding something that makes them feel confident — and I make sure it’s one-of-a-kind.”
Growing The Loope on the University of Michigan’s campus has offered Riley a built-in test market. “With trendsetters on every corner, I have great insight into what I need to source and what’s in high demand,” she said. College campuses are incubators for creativity and culture, and for a fashion entrepreneur like Riley, they also serve as powerful marketing ecosystems. From word-of-mouth buzz to social media storytelling, she’s learned to position The Loope as more than just a brand — it’s an experience rooted in individuality and confidence.
That confidence is what drives The Loope’s impact. For many students, finding clothes that reflect who they are can be a small but meaningful source of motivation, especially during long semesters filled with midterms, deadlines, and caffeine-fueled nights. “Looking good is feeling good,” Riley said. “And if I can help someone feel their best through what they wear, that’s a success to me.”
Riley’s dream is to one day open a retail storefront for The Loope in Chicago, blending Midwest charm with the city’s growing sustainable fashion scene. “Thrifting has always been a part of me,” she said. “It started in my small Wisconsin hometown, where weekends meant hunting for hidden gems at the thrift bins.” Through The Loope, she wants others to experience the same thrill of finding something unexpected and satisfaction of making a sustainable choice.
Beyond her entrepreneurial success, Riley’s story reflects a deeper purpose: college campuses aren’t just spaces for learning, they’re launchpads for innovation. Students like Riley show how education and ambition can merge to create something real, tangible, and inspiring. By blending business knowledge with creativity and a clear mission, The Loope demonstrates how passion projects can evolve into purpose-driven enterprises.
For Riley, running The Loope isn’t just about fashion; it’s about building confidence, community, and sustainability. Her journey embodies the spirit of student entrepreneurship — proving that when creativity meets initiative, ideas can turn into lasting impact.
