Recycled Chic Boutique: the Pearl District’s Designer Source for Fashion
November’s tenant spotlight is focused on Jaime Durham, the owner of Recycled Chic Boutique, who has operated her consignment fashion business in the Pearl since 2008. Jaime recently moved her boutique to the 13th Street Lofts, located at 239 NW 13th Avenue. The 13th Street Lofts sits across the street from the international creative agency Wieden + Kennedy, in the heart of the Pearl District, Portland’s original creative district.
With the holidays rapidly approaching, and after last year’s confined holiday season, it’s time to review your wardrobe, dress-up, and go out! Searching for that perfect gift for the fashion lover on your list? Shop local and check out Recycled Chic Boutique, the go-to shop for consignment designer clothing and accessories with a personal touch.
A Passion for Fashion!
“I’ve always been into fashion, but often the things I loved were well out of my price range. I didn’t know that designer consignment was even a thing until after college when I would frequent Recycled Chic when it was run by the previous owner, Qristy. Over time we became friends, and I even worked with her for a while before eventually purchasing the business from her. It was a childhood dream realized to have my own boutique and get to do something I truly love as a career.”
A Personal Touch
Recycled Chic consigns clothing, handbags, shoes, and accessories, specializing in casual, contemporary styles. “Think Real Real on a smaller scale,” Jaime said. The appeal lies in not only the high-quality products but in the boutique’s hands-on, personal approach to fashion. The boutique even offers “closet clean-outs where we’ll come to you and help you sort your closet, consignment pick-ups, even local deliveries for items purchased online.”
While most customers are locals, Jaime serves non-Portlanders as well. “We do have out-of-state customers/consignors who purchase items through our website and/or ship us their consignments.”
Recycled Chic’s following is “incredibly loyal,” and many customers have shopped there for years. “When someone has a good experience and tells their friends about us, it’s the best advertising any small business could ask for.”
That being said, Jaime is a great spokesperson for designer consignment fashion in media, including a spot on KGW highlighting fashion trends.
Creativity Both Online and in the Right Space
While quarantine certainly posed a challenge, Jaime pivoted to online sales but also wanted the right place for face-to-face engagement. Recycled Chic moved recently from a “regular storefront” to a studio in the 13th Street Lofts just before the pandemic. The space is so glam that it can be scheduled for private events and holiday parties!
A Hybrid Retail Model
“We began to rely on social media a lot more. Instagram became a lifeline when we could not open to the public. The support we received from our community was truly remarkable. Moving forward, I’d like to continue to build our online presence while also creating a welcoming, beautiful space for customers to come and shop in person if they prefer.”
The Right Location
“This was actually the first space I looked at when considering the move, and I knew immediately when I walked in that this was the one. It has big New York City vibes. Industrial feel with beautiful wood floors and huge windows that give off lots of natural light.”
Recycled Chic Boutique
239 NW 13th Avenue, Suite 209
Portland, OR, 97209
Contact Jaime viaText or Email:
[P]: 503.228.1535
[E]: recycledchicpdx@gmail.com
By appointment only
Sustainable Fashion
Shopping with a consignment boutique is better for the environment and sometimes the only way to get a timeless or unique addition to your wardrobe. And, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better resource than Recycled Chic, a curated high-end consignment designer shop committed to bringing the highest quality clothes of every style to bear.
“It’s been interesting to see the shift that’s taken place the past few years with the decline of malls and more people preferring to shop from home. Sustainability is also a huge factor for many people, which has always been one of our core values. Consignment is really having a moment right now, and I don’t see it slowing down any time soon. I always hear people say that once you shop consignment, you never go back.” - Jaime Durham
A Creative Spirit, Talented Singer and World Traveler
Born and raised in Eugene, Jaime spent time in New York and Paris before returning to Oregon to attend PSU. She’s kept up the travel too: “I typically visit Europe at least once a year and consider Paris my home away from home.”
Travel synergizes well with another of her passions, singing! She recently traveled to Mexico City to record some music and “turned the walk-in closet in my apartment into a recording studio.”
Anderson Cooper and Beyoncé - furry fashionistas!
Recycled Chic has two shops dogs, who are the “real stars” of the store, named Anderson Cooper and Beyoncé. According to Jaime, “they enjoy long naps, trips to the pet store for mid-day snacks, and pets from their favorite customers. It’s not uncommon for customers to stop by just to say hi to them.”
Explore Recycled Chic Boutique! Invest in a designer item or two? And, support a women-owned, local business!
Visit the Recycled Chic Boutique’s website, Recycled Chic Boutique, or check out their social media @recycledchic.
The Pearl District Portfolio
If you’re looking for a new place for your business venture, visit the Pearl District Portfolio website for available spaces. We take pride in our community and are committed to ensuring this mixed-use district continues to function as a vibrant center of art and culture, urban housing, and creativity. Through the adaptive reuse of our eight distinct buildings, we continue to honor the district's history while providing a range of spaces unique and unequaled in Portland.
Explore Pearl District Portfolio’s website for more information on the Pearl District Portfolio, the history of the Pearl, the community, and events.
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