Step into this heartfelt episode of The Oasis where Haqq sit's down with Kadjahtou Balde, the passionate force behind Modify Thrift- A Harlem based pre love thrift shop. Kadjahtou's story begins long before she ever opened her own shop—it starts with her father, a Harlem staple who ran his store in the neighborhood for years. When she stepped in to carry that legacy forward, she wasn’t just taking over a business she was continuing her family's legacy.
In this intimate conversation, she opens up about the moment she asked herself, What can we build with low overhead that still allows us to thrive? That question sparked the birth of Modify Thrift, a unique space offering modest, sustainable, pre-loved clothing for all women Her mission is rooted in sustainability, accessibility, creativity, and honoring the community that raised her.
You’ll hear how her upbringing shaped her identity, how sustainability became a core value, and how she turned her father’s Harlem hustle into a modern, purpose-driven business. This episode dives deep into themes of family legacy, faith, resilience, entrepreneurship, and reimagining what thrift culture can be. If you’re navigating your own path, dreaming of building something meaningful, or simply love a good story of grit and growth—you’re going to feel right at home here.
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#thriftshopping #harlemcommunity #modestfashion #muslimfashion #fashionhub
CHAPTERS:
01:07 - Intro
01:59 - Her Early Life
04:02 - College Experience
06:20 - First Job Insights
09:47 - Her Dad’s Business Journey
15:35 - Understanding Modify Thrift
17:43 - Dad's Reaction to Thrift Store Idea
21:10 - The Light Bulb Moment
24:09 - Green Light from Dad
27:50 - Meaning of Modify Thrift
30:34 - Sharing Her Journey Publicly
32:30 - Her Dad's Coolness
34:04 - The Modest Closet Refresh
42:09 - Curating Your Clothes
45:36 - Personal Insights
48:40 - Balancing Responsibilities
50:54 - The Muslim Community Impact
53:25 - What's Next for Modify
The Oasis with Haqq Islam Podcast Subscribe to Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@haqqislamoasis Listen on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oasis-with-a-haqq-islam/id1740666577 Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haqqislamoasis/?hl=en Follow on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@haqqislamoasis Oasis Podcast Website: https://www.theoasispodcast.com/
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