Rewind to June 2020, Lauren and Joe Gardenbelle had lived in their school bus conversion for a year, and decided to quit their jobs (high school teacher for Lauren and sous chef for Joe) and hit the road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They had no idea what they'd do for income, but a month later they started a fun way to keep fueling their travels. Lauren started an Instagram page named Gardenbelle's Traveling Closet, and listed 2 items from her closet for sale, auction style. It was fun, remote, and was offering a small audience the opportunity to snag thrifted and vintage clothes at whatever price they decide. Stoked on the interest in the 2 pieces they sold, the next day they drove their bus to a local thrift shop in Telluride, Colorado. They picked about 8 pieces, photographed them in a field with a mountainous background and posted them on the IG account. 

Lauren and Joe continued to do this all around the US for the next 4 months, until they felt a calling to do something more. To create their own styles, ethically made with mostly recycled fabrics. Gardenbelle Shop was born Oct 2020, and Lauren and Joe ran the shop out of the bus for the next year! It was already an extremely small space for living, but they made it work. Gardenbelle Shop has become something today that no one saw coming, and this past March 2023 we moved to our very first retail and online fulfillment center. We open our first retail shop this May 2023. Lauren and Joe still live in their school bus with their 5 dogs and now 8 month old son, Inde Rhoades.