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Redefining Vintage in Downtown Elgin

Young Entrepreneur Has Created a Fun and Elevated Shopping Experience By Repurposing Vintage Clothing and Reducing Waste.

I've found great joy in reusing and repurposing vintage clothes, and my hope is to destigmatize these things through my business, Able Shoppe. Fashion and trends are often cyclical. Garments from previous decades often come back into style and can be recontextualized in a contemporary way. Honestly, vintage goods often are higher quality than things made today.

It’s been estimated that 92 million tons of textile waste are created annually from the fashion industry alone, so I feel a personal motivation to play my part in reducing some of this waste while also creating a fun and elevated experience for shoppers.

When you visit Able Shoppe you can expect a visual treat and full experience, from the scent of the candles we burn, music we play, and our attention to design. There’s a bright gallery feel that allows everything to really shine. Vintage has such interesting textures, colors and shapes. Our intent was to design a space that feels beautiful, artful and modern.

Able Shoppe was founded in 2016. At the time I was interning at a fair-trade boutique in Nashville where I was introduced to the concept of sustainable and low-impact fashion. The idea took root that I could own a business that repurposed and gave new life to vintage clothing while reducing waste. While in Nashville I started Able Shoppe as on online experience. I had some friends model for me and got my first items up on Etsy. In 2017 I quit my other jobs to pursue Able Shoppe full-time including hosting pop-up shops and selling at markets around Chicagoland. In 2020 I began investigating my dream of opening a brick-and-mortar location, and in January 2021 was thrilled to open the Able Shoppe storefront in downtown Elgin.

I source the goods we sell from anywhere and everywhere. The key is consistency and developing an eye for items that have potential. I go to estate sales and secondhand stores, and work with private sellers who have offered me the opportunity to curate items from their collections. I personally source all our inventory – apparel, jewelry, home goods and furniture - from our travels around the U.S. and the world.

Our ideal customer is anyone willing to give vintage a chance. Online I have been excited to ship items all across the globe, and in our short time since opening the storefront I’ve been so encouraged by the variety of people who come to Able Shoppe and find something that they love.

Looking ahead I plan to host events, workshops, concerts, pop-ups and more {when it is safe to do so}. I also want to launch a YouTube Channel to share my sourcing process, styling and interior design. Five years from now I would love to be designing my own line of clothing from deadstock vintage material and possibly open a second location!

About the Author: Liv Melchers is the owner and creative force behind Able Shoppe, 23 S. Spring Street in Elgin. Visit AbleShoppe.com and be sure to follow her on Instagram (@AbleShoppe).

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