There are plenty of likely destinations for Houston's next up-and-coming boutique: Rice Village, 19th Street, CityCentre, Market Street, etc. But like aspiring restaurateurs who have eschewed paying brick-and-mortar rents for the mobile freedom of food trucks, some of Houston's new generation of shop owners are building their retail cred by selling their wares on the Internet.
An online store was the most obvious solution for sisters and aspiring retailers Kailey and Kaygan Tissue. After graduating from the University of Florida[1] , Kailey headed to New York and racked up fashion industry experience working for Vivienne Tam and Rag & Bone before returning to Houston; Kaygan is due to graduate from Texas Christian University[2] with a degree in fashion merchandising in 2015. While the sisters are in different cities they've launched Kissue (kissuetx.com) as an online boutique with affordable, trendy women's clothing.
"We stick to our true aesthetic of modern, clean-cut yet trendy pieces," said Kailey.
The long-term goal is to open a Kissue flagship store in Houston after Kaygan graduates and, eventually, the sisters plan to design and sell their own line. With a penchant for voluminous sweaters, leather, gauzy layers, sequined shorts and head-to-toe black, the Tissue girls share some design sensibilities with Kate and Laura Mulleavy, the sisters behind designer brand Rodarte.
"It's awesome," said Kailey of being in business with her sister. "Not only are we best friends, but since we're sisters we have that mutual respect for one another and we know that we share a passion. We're on the same page."
It's the same passion that motivated three friends from Missouri City's Hightower High School[3] to go into business together. Ira Green[4] , Dominique McGhee[5] and Billy By combined their love for dapper style (and their names) to create Irdobi (irdobi.com), an online store featuring luxury men's accessories. Focusing on brands that have been hard to find in Houston, Irdobi sells grosgrain strap watches by Daniel Wellington[6] , patterned bow ties and lapel flowers by Charming Villain, sophisticated neckties by General Knot, Italian leather duffel bags by Mezzi and solid colognes by Alfred Lane[7] . There also are colorful socks by Jonathan Adler[8] and Happy Socks that would surely be approved by Houston's sock fashion icon, George H.W. Bush[9] .
"Houston doesn't get enough recognition for being stylish. We have very cool taste, we're very laid back, but people dress very well. Between the three of us, we all have our own take on the accessories we sell in the store. We like the same things but we wear them in completely different ways," said McGhee. "It's about embracing the fact that everyone has their own sense of style and getting things that not everyone else is going to be wearing."
McGhee said making the transition to a brick-and-mortar location would be "exciting" but that the friends are first planning on adding shoes and eventually men's clothing to their website.
On the home front, with a name like West 23rd Street Vintage, it's easy to imagine owner Kristy Keele[10] 's vintage furniture, accessories and tabletop goods occupying an adorable hidden retreat somewhere in the Heights. Instead, the designer has created a passionate online following, first on Etsy (etsy.com/shop/West23rdStVintage) and more recently on flash sale site One King's Lane and Instagram (instagram.com/west23rdstvintage).
"I love Instagram. It's so easy to leave a comment and connect with people, and, since it's so visual, it's great for retailers," said Keele.
A former insurance salesperson, Keele started collecting vintage items as a hobby, hitting thrift stores and estate sales for good deals. Less than a year after she started selling some of her extra finds online, she's turned her hobby into a full-time career as a designer, stylist and a curator of interesting objects.
"My taste is very eclectic. I like brass, faux bamboo and vintage barware. Being obsessed with the design world I know what's in and what people want," said Keele.
In an Instagram-only flash sale last month, Keele's eagle-eyed followers snapped up a set of gold-rimmed malachite cups and plates, an engraved silver plate pitcher, Japanese porcelain lotus flower bowls, brass faux-bamboo dresser pulls, and a trio of urchin and coral objets d'art.
"It's what I've always wanted to do, said Keele. "Everyone's always like, 'Where's your store?' It's in my garage."
Sarah Rufca
References
- ^ University of Florida (www.chron.com)
- ^ Texas Christian University (www.chron.com)
- ^ Hightower High School (www.chron.com)
- ^ Ira Green (www.chron.com)
- ^ Dominique McGhee (www.chron.com)
- ^ Daniel Wellington (www.chron.com)
- ^ Alfred Lane (www.chron.com)
- ^ Jonathan Adler (www.chron.com)
- ^ George H.W. Bush (www.chron.com)
- ^ Kristy Keele (www.chron.com)
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