Revival Boutique opened its doors to eager customers in downtown Castlegar last week.
Zabrina Nelson opened Revival Boutique in Rossland about three years ago, but a dream to expand led her to the storefront at 343 Columbia Avenue in Castlegar.
“We were sad to leave,” said Nelson. “But we needed a bigger space in order to achieve our dreams — Castlegar offered that. Castlegar has received us so beautifully.”
The store features a unique mixture that is hard to describe — an eclectic selection of new and resale clothing and accessories for men and women including costume and vintage offerings, artisan jewelry, home decor and locally made soaps, oils and personal care products.
Revival Boutique carries its theme of reusing and repurposing to the store’s fixtures as well, including the front desk which is made of discarded books from area libraries. Racks are made out of everything from repurposed wood and old doors to plumbing supplies and antique ladders.
“We’re just trying to show people you can be clever and creative in recycling and still make a beautiful space,” said Nelson.
The business is a family enterprise, with Nelson’s daughters helping out in the store and her husband Mike Hartwig doing a lot of the building projects.
Featured products include Healing Hollow essential oils, Backerton hand-made wallets, and Kootenay-made products from Lillie & Cohoe hats, ARK clothing, A Long Soak soaps, Soco soaps, Candace’s Ceramics, Something Sweet Creative, Soulumination Artworks and Haute Jewelery.
Nelson says their resale clothing features high-quality pieces that have been washed, steamed, sorted, sized and categorized.
“We do a lot of the work to make it easier for people who want to buy clothes at a resale shop.”
The store has several sources for its resale clothing including swapping products with a vintage store on Vancouver Island and purchasing from the public.
Revival Boutique pays for clothing at a rate of about one-third of the price it will sell for in the store. Clients have the option of taking their payment, or donating the proceeds to the charity Nelson has chosen to support — Equine Assisted Learning.
After an item earmarked for the charity is sold, the store donates 50 per cent of the sale to the charity.
Nelson says that October is usually a busy month for the store with people looking for vintage clothing and costume pieces. Vintage pieces on the rack this week included flapper dresses and a ’70s floral polyester pant suit.
“We are excited to be in Castlegar,” added Nelson. “It is one of those things in life where everything just leads you forward in a certain direction and you find yourself in a place that is healthy and good — that is what we have found here.”
