The Story So Far
Bonejacked Vintage was started in the summer of 2010 as a grassroots endeavor to combat mass consumerism, the overproduction of unsustainable clothing manufacturing, and the unnecessary waste left behind by these practices. Fueled by a passionate pursuit of unique articles of clothing that had been devalued by time or discarded, co-owner and long time roadside treasure hunter Nick DeyArmond found a niche to pursue in vintage tee shirts, primarily those manufactured from the 1960s-late 90s. The operation started with a small booth set up on the weekends in the now defunct East Bank Market in downtown Bay City, current home to Dry Dock Beer Garden. The market, paired with sparce online sales through various online platforms, is where Bonejacked was born.
Fast forward nearly 13 years: Though life got in the way, and the dreams of offering a unique in-person shopping experience for the people of Bay City and visitors from all over were placed on the back burner, but the collecting, planning, and daydreaming never stopped. After traveling and working various seasonal jobs all over the United States (and picking up vintage relics along the way), Nick and his new wife and co-owner, Angela Napolitano, hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony in May of 2023; And, with huge assistance from friends and family, finally opened the doors to the Brick-and-Mortar version of Bonejacked Vintage Apparel at its current location, 512 Columbus Avenue, in Bay City, MI.
From day one, the goal has remained the same; Do good business. This is the pinnacle of our operation, and the sun around which it revolves. Though our product is top quality TRUE vintage pieces (20+ years old), the primary function of Bonejacked is and always will be to create a unique and inviting space to shop, where all are welcome - free of judgement. What we sell is our connection to our product and shared passion with our customers. All of the pieces in our shop have been lovingly curated to fit a vision, and we hope that's apparent to anyone walking through the doors for the 1st or 1,000th time. What got us started is watching people shop through our wide selection of vintage wearables with a smile. What continues fueling us is watching them leave with a unique piece that we know will be loved and taken care of for many years to come. Though our roots are in graphic tees, we continue to branch out into all forms of wearable vintage. This has come to encompass denim, sweaters, dresses, smoking jackets, blouses, shoes, pins and buttons, hats, belt buckles, and anything else with expressive and unique potential.
What We Do
In addition to our never ending endeavor of bringing customers top-quality wearables, the overall goal for the future is simple; No piece goes unloved. As the years go on and the stains, dirt, and funky smells collect, many otherwise amazing vintage articles have a tendency to be viewed as undesirable trash - especially if they're not considered 'grail' level pieces (a term that didn't even exist when we started). We aim to fix that. As our treatment methods become more refined, the overall goal is to never turn away a good vintage piece strictly based on it's appearance or condition. For the future of Bonejacked, we want aim our focus on what can be done in an effort to preserve, restore, repair, and, if absolutely necessary, upcycle amazing vintage that would otherwise have been slated for the dumpster. The journey begins with the vintage world's worst enemy; Dry Rot. Though it can not be cured, we have a few ideas for preservation efforts. Stay tuned.