These Owners Are On Trend

Written By: Elaine Morgan Cutting Boutique Owners of Huntington Beach

The fascinating world of boutique retail is a staple in Huntington Beach culture. With so many options, each one is a wonderland of fantastic variety. From beachy to casual, vintage to grunge, boutique shops around Huntington Beach provide a unique array of one-of-a-kind options to match the diverse styles of the community of Huntington Beach. But what really makes a boutique special, is the specific heart and dedication behind the register. So we asked you, the community, to vote on your favorite Huntington Beach boutique owners. Here’s your chance to get to know a little more about your winners.

 

Jeannie MacGillvray and Devona Kauffmann, Fringe By Dali

Q: What is the most rewarding aspect about being based in Huntington Beach?

Jeannie MacGillvray: Obviously, our customers the and lifestyle they lead. It’s a beautiful city and all of our customers always have somewhere fabulous to go. It seems like our lifestyle here is just top notch.

Q: Why are you passionate about the world of boutique apparel?

JM: I had some really great managers that I worked with and I just loved the passion. I had worked behind the scenes at the Wet Seal corporation, but I always saw myself wanting to be back in the store with the customers and opening the shipment and seeing what comes in. It was always a draw from when I was 17.

Q: Why do you choose to focus on local up-and-coming designers?

JM: This is our hometown. We started small and it’s not easy. To give someone else that opportunity, to put what they believe in in our store, it’s just a good collaboration. It’s so inspiring, we’re all wanting that same things, we’re all creative and we just enjoy each other.

Q: Where did the name Fringe by Dai come from?

JM: We had been up in LA when we didn’t have a name. We went into a music store and we saw a poster that said Salvador Dali. That’s kinda cool cause it’s not doll like d-o-l-l-y but it’s D-a-l-i, kind of an artistic thing and we wanted to put a twist on it with the fringe so Fringe by Dali always stuck and it felt girly to us. We are pretty girly so it just stuck.

Q: What are your thoughts on being voted as one of the top boutiques in Huntington Beach?  

JM: I couldn’t even believe it when the we were watching the polls. We were both really happy and it just means a lot being this little boutique that so many people love and come back to time and time. We love it because of you guys. It makes what we do so great.

 

Lindsey Lamoureux, West of Camden

Q: Why are you passionate about the world of boutique apparel?

Lindsey Lamoureux: We like to be able to offer something that is just us. My husband and I create a lot of our own designs for the West of Camden brand and it’s fun to deal with the public and see their reactions. It’s rewarding to carry the bigger lines as well, that they have confidence in our shop.

Q: Take us through the process that goes into selecting the items you invest in at your location.

LL: If it’s something that I’d want to buy personally, it’s something I want to sell. I really love that this could be the location that someone can go through to hopefully boost them up to become a bigger line.

Q: Where did the name “West of Camden” come from?

LL: I studied abroad in London. Camden is super unique, a little grimy, a little artsy, a little bit of everything and we are obviously west of there. It’s a way to pay homage to that experience and that business model of everything fits under one roof just because I say so. Everything from the local artist to big corporate brands and they all sort of live together because of our aesthetic.

Q: What would you say the heart of your aesthetic is?  

LL: We call it ‘street meets beach.’ We are not so street that everything is a drop crotch jogger and we are not so beach that we would be considered surf, but more of your comfy cozy high-quality casual wear.

Q: What are your thoughts on being voted as one of the top boutiques in Huntington Beach?  

LL: It’s gratifying to see that people care and that people notice us. It’s really cool that people have made the effort to become friends with us to the point of where they would want us to do well in a poll like this.

 

Alexander Aquino, Barnabas

Q: What is the most rewarding aspect about being based in Huntington Beach?

Alexander Aquino: The community. They’re very responsive to us as a brand and our overall message. We feel very welcomed.

Q: Why are you passionate about the world of boutique apparel?

AA: The main thing is to be a brand that has a positive message. Our tagline is to “live a life that is worth imitating” and what that means is you can be a great example in choosing good or choosing better. We’re a brand that not only has a positive message, but also tangibly gives back to an organization in Kenya called The Living Room International.

Q: Take us a through the process that goes into selecting what items you invest in at Barnabas.  

AA: We want to make sure that people get a quality garments and also that they feel there’s a tangible impact with their purchase. We take careful thought in if it’s ethically free and sweatshop free to make sure we’re putting our best foot forward.

Q: What does Barnabas mean?

AA: Barnabas means “Son of Encouragement.” It’s a biblical name. Barnabas is about encouraging others to do their best and live their best life. It’s interesting how people gravitated towards it and they get it from the get-go.

Q: What are your thoughts on being voted as one of the top boutiques in Huntington Beach?

AA: It’s flattering because I feel like I’m just a newbie. It’s encouraging to know that the community is receiving us well, to know we’re doing something right.

Whitney Sulimoff, Minx Boutique

Q: What is the most rewarding aspect about being based in Huntington Beach?

Whitney Sulimoff: I love my customers. Without my loyal customers, I really wouldn’t be anywhere. I end up becoming friends with a lot of the people that come in.

Q: What is the most meaningful item that you sell.  

WS: I love accessories and jewelry. Jewelry fits everybody and it can change an outfit. Second to that, anything that makes a woman feel good in her own skin. There are so many stigmas about what a woman should look like, so when I help somebody and I get to see their face light up, just that perfect item for that customer.

Q: Where does the name “Minx” mean?

WS: Minx in French is “flirt” and we have the backwards N on my logo; something flirty, fun, different, a little backwards. I love it, so I wanted to evoke that in the name of my business.

Q: Tell us a bit about your upcoming creative collaborations.  

WS: Part of my new concept is inviting other creatives to work together and partner with one another so we can boost each other. I welcome people to reach out to me if they’re just starting on their journey or looking for somewhere to build their brand, we all help each other business to business.

Q: What are your thoughts on being voted as one of the top boutiques in Huntington Beach?

WS: I am just floored. To have that support of my customers just really means the world to me. It just validates that I’m on the right track.

 

Michelle Fechtig, 1 Look Vintage

Q: What is the most rewarding aspect about being based in Huntington Beach?

Michelle Fechtig: We get a lot of foot traffic being right next to Main Street. There’s been a lot of businesses growing here, so this street is a little more popular now.

Q: Why are you passionate about the world of boutique apparel?

MF: I love the small, one-on-one feel. We have a lot of regular customers and they know pretty much every one of us by name. Especially having a vintage shop, they’ll bring up stories like ‘I had this when I was little.’

Q: Take us through the process that goes into selecting what items you invest in at 1 Look Vintage.  

MF: It’s different all the time. I try to keep it more local like American made clothing lines. Then we have refurbished part, where we get vintage T-shirts and we refurbish them. We never know what’s going to come through the door and we hand pick all of it.

Q: Tell us about the concept of “refurbished apparel.”

MF: When we first opened my daughter was helping me and we were just messing around with denim shorts and would pick out patterns with what we would put on them. We also do denim jackets with the patches or the vintage band t-shirt on the back.

Q: What are your thoughts on being voted as one of the top boutiques in Huntington Beach?  

MF: I’m just surprisingly overwhelmed. It’s awesome because there are a lot of other boutiques that have been around a lot longer than I have. I’m really honored.  

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