“I think of myself as a fashion archaeologist, it’s like I’m unearthing great finds” Josh Holder proclaimed as he comfortably settled on a bench in the middle of his store, Time Warp Boutique.
Holder is a 41 year old, or 39 plus 2 per his description, owner of a vintage boutique located in Mid City Baton Rouge. He is a Baton Rouge native, and attended LSU and Southeastern to study history.
Holder’s love of fashion began when he was only eight years old, when he began collecting vintage clothing. In high school, he wore vintage clothing to express himself as an individual and to locate his personal style. He described himself as the “weirdo kid” who loved everything that was different and outdated.
“I have always found a lacking for interesting clothing in Baton Rouge” Holder said.  “I wanted to create a space where people could mix and match pieces from different decades to create one of a kind looks that have not been done before.”
Holder first garnered retail experience as a regional manager for Natural Wonders a chain of nature stores, which taught him a lot about entrepreneurship. .After managing Time Warp for five consecutive years, Holder bought the boutique and became the sole owner. Holder was tired of working for “the man” because he felt he was being declined his creativity. He believed that there was a need for a vintage clothing store in Baton Rouge, and knew that he was driven and hardworking enough to make his vision successful. His experience in the business side of a company, paired with his devotion to fashion, worked cohesively together to create the popular vintage store that Holder envisioned.
 “It was a smooth transition” Holder continued. “Once I took over the space, we just reeled in what was fashion and currently in demand and weeded out what was not interesting or random.  We have created nooks in the store making it easier to shop and added some gifts and locally handmade goods too, giving it a cozy shoppable experience for everyone.”
Holder’s inspiration for the store was an institution for people who are confused about conforming to the normal dress codes in Baton Rouge. His main goal for the store was to promote confidence for people who love fashion, but feel that they cannot wear certain clothes.  The garments vary in selection from Austin to Los Angeles.
“It’s not just about selling the clothes, it’s about really creating that confidence and letting people know that you can do it. And don’t worry about what people think, you’re a badass. Enjoy yourself.” Holder happily explained.
Holder’s love of history and fashion have become intertwined as his store has evolved. He can timeline any period in fashion, and that is essentially what his store layout does as well. Various racks are skillfully scattered throughout the store, each one containing clothing from a different decade. One moment a shopper is immersed in 50’s fashion trends, and only a few steps away are the 80’s waiting to be perused.
Holder has a very hands on approach to his business, as he works out on the floor with his other employees and interacts with customers at any opportunity. From trying on a pair of oversized round glasses for a customer, to selecting a range of garments that he thinks works well for a certain shopper, Holder always interacts with his customers to provide them with a fun and exciting experience within his fashion haven.
When finding inspiration for new pieces to display in his store, Holder does not exclude anything. He giddily explained that everything can be an inspiration for fashion.  He is influenced by everything, ranging from pop culture and music to street style and movies. Holder said Time Warp is definitely expanding to the internet and surrounding cities.
“We have had an amazing 13 years and have had people from all over the world who have come to visit” Holder said. “We have tons of customers who travel from New Orleans and Lafayette to shop with us. We hate that people visit, fall in love with us then go back to where they live and never see them again. We are torn on where to plant our next shop, so 2016 we will be launching new platforms for people to buy from afar and to keep in touch.”