The INK+ALLOY factory store is right off Ponce de Leon and brings its modern bohemian essence to Decatur. It's a women-founded accessory brand that focuses on what matters most to the founder: empowering women to express themselves with no inhibitions. While locations span New York City and Chicago, Decatur is home. For Gretchen Hollingsworth, it all started with the casual flip of a magazine. She was 25 years old and had a career in environmental science she didn't love. "My parents owned their own business and had the entrepreneurial spirit, and I wanted to do something on my own," Hollingsworth said. She wasn’t sure of her next venture until she picked up a Martha Stewart magazine about candle making. "I started making candles, and that took off," she said. Hollingsworth's first go at getting her business idea off the ground was a stunning success. She sold curated fragrances to local businesses and ran a showroom in Atlanta.
Hollingsworth embraced the thrill of owning a business and took the lessons she learned in stride. Those lessons led her to a newer, more personal calling. "For the second go-round, [I] really wanted to make the business about a give-back," she said. Inspired by India's rich culture and art, Hollingsworth founded INK+ALLOY in 2016.
INK+ALLOY collaborates with Indian artisans to create bold designs and, through its Commit2Change partnership, gives back to India's vulnerable communities. A part of its profits funds the formal education of impoverished Indian girls. "This affords them to be able to do something with their life," Hollingsworth said. "It empowers them and gives them a chance." From what she's accomplished, Hollingsworth looks back on her pivot to working for herself and giving to those in need with pride. "I remember to have fun and have perspective," she said. "I'm proud of that."
"I really wanted to make the business about a give-back."