The tough economy has put some retailers out of business, but it isn’t keeping other merchants from opening new doors or adding stores.
Businesses specializing in “green” fashion are among those on the upswing.
Unity was Denver’s first fashion boutique offering clothing made in America from environmentally sustainable fabrics clothes when it opened in a Victorian house in the Old South Pearl Street business district more than two years ago. Now owner Megan Smith, 25, is launching a second location, at 1550 Platte St. in the burgeoning LoHi neighborhood.
Smith says she used eco-friendly materials in the new space, including beetle-kill pine. She’s also focused on offering a greater selection of moderately priced merchandise and is adding to the assortment of accessories. “Our average item is under $50,” she says.
Unity Boutique, 1550 Platte St., 720-570-5076. More at .
Peggy Gullam wasn’t about to let construction delays keep her from opening her new eco boutique, Chrysalis. Until her permanent location in the Streets at SouthGlenn is ready (they’re pushing for the center’s grand opening weekend Aug. 27-30) she took a spot two doors down from Whole Foods in the mixed-use redevelopment at South University Boulevard and East Arapahoe Road.
Gullam comes to retail from a 26-year career in real estate and was living in Alaska before moving to Colorado to launch her store featuring green clothing, shoes and accessories.
“It’s not like it was at first, with everything in drab colors,” Gullam says of the new state of eco chic. She carries silk dresses, organic cotton tops and jeans by such companies as Loomstate, and fancy dresses from Los Angeles-based designer Deborah Lindquist. Among the other labels she’s carrying are Sust, whose owners recently moved to Denver, as well as Soldat, and Stewart & Brown.
Gullam will offer a full assortment of accessories, shoes, home decor items and bed and bath items. Locally made handbags from English Retreads, and TraSH Bagz are in the mix, too.
Chrysalis, 6851 S. Gaylord St., Unit 254, Centennial; 303-658-0056 chrysalis-eco-chic.com
Also part of the 77-acre Streets at SouthGlenn is a shoe store, Sole Food. Owner Cheryl Stimson will sell footwear for women and children, handbags and accessories. 6851 S. Gaylord St., Unit 253; 303-703-3855; e-mail: info@sole .
Additional fashion retailers include Irresistibles, women’s fashions and home decor; Kismet, a second location for this women’s accessories and home fashions store; and Sous Le Lit, limited edition jewelry, handbags and accessories. A full list of retailers, restaurants and services is at shop .
Stylewarrior is a fierce name for a friendly and affordable LoDo store specializing in its own line of lightweight jersey, micro thermal, and lace mesh printed tops, $38-$78. Owner Sam Sangialosi oversees design of the products, which are made in Los Angeles in small lots. About a third of the store is devoted to the knits; another third features scarves, handbags and Twisted Silver jewelry. Sangialosi, who started his shirt business first as a wholesale venture, says the boutique was designed to be “guiltless shopping.”
Stylewarrior, 1499 Blake St., 888-848-8768; .
Reversing the formula of stores opening shopping websites, now some websites are opening boutique showrooms. Shopgoldyn is a high-fashion online retailer featuring such designers as Loeffler Randall, Charlotte Ronson and Rebecca Minkoff. It opens a Denver showroom Aug. 28 with a 6-8 p.m. shopping event that will feature a fashion show, live music, DJs and specialty drinks. Following the party, the store will be open by appointment and to-be-determined store hours. 3457 Ringsby Court, 106; 888-646-5396; .
Suzanne S. Brown: 303-954-1697 or sbrown@denverpost.com
