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Date: 2/22/2022
AMHERST – In an effort to bring high fashion down to affordable pricing, Andrea Marion opened “The Closet” on Montague Road in North Amherst.
In what started as an online high-end apparel store, The Closet is set on bringing chic and eclectic style to Amherst. The boutique aims to offer more accessible options for fashion by pricing new and “previously loved” designer, and high-quality garments at a more affordable price point. Before opening her own shop in December 2021, Marion began selling clothes at artisan and farmers markets around the Pioneer Valley and soon discovered her inventory and ethos were in demand with residents.
During her time selling at artisan markets Marion was set up at one at the Mill District, which is now where the new location of The Closet will be in the spring.
“It’s coming full circle which is exciting,” Marion said. “I have been lucky enough to get constant positive feedback. I think it’s a great place for all ages and it exists for anyone who likes and appreciates fashion.”
Marion has lived in the Amherst area over 10 years and used to work in nonprofit leadership, assisting families experiencing food insecurity and homelessness. After spending so much time working to help those in need, Marion reevaluated what she was doing for a career when the pandemic first hit and decided to take a chance on opening her own boutique with the goal of affordability on designer and high-quality clothing.
“It’s a huge change for me,” Marion said. “In the height of the pandemic, I reevaluated what I was doing and my happiness level and I thought that it was time for a change. I was somebody that has always been into fashion and clothing and having fun with getting dressed.”
It has been an adjustment according to Marion, but so far she feels its been worth it. She added that her nature of helping people and developing a sense of community is something that she is really trying to maintain with The Closet.
Coming from city life when she moved to Amherst, Marion saw fewer options for clothing and began looking to online for her main way of purchasing her clothing. During the beginning of the pandemic in an effort to revamp her own closet, she looked for items that were higher end but in her words “pre-loved” and it has since turned into a mission of bringing the same well made fashion items available to the community.
“The mission of The Closet is to bring clothes to Western Mass. that are well made and that are not fast-fashion or mall fashion,” Marion said. “Not that there’s anything wrong [with those options], its just not the mission of The Closet to provide fast fashion.”
The next goal is making these higher end items more affordable for people. Marion looks at the prices for items on secondary markets and takes that same item purchased by The Closet with the goal of offering less than what it is being sold for in places like Posh Mart, eBay, or other resale websites.
“I have things from $5, I have a brand new pair of shoes worth $3,000 dollars that I’m selling for a $1,000 so there is a huge range of price points in the store,” Marion said. “There’s special pieces, but there is definitely something for everyone.”
On their website Marion writes, “I want to create a welcoming space for all people who love clothing and style. We sell clothes that are traditionally made for women but we are here for everyone who wants to dress in them, regardless of gender, race, size, or age. It is time to challenge all that prevents us from experiencing self-love and self-expression.”
While The Closet’s official opening date hinges on construction and availability factors, the goal, according to Marion, is March 1. Marion hopes to evolve the store from aspirations of not only being a boutique, but also the flexibility to offer an area for people to casually hangout and be amongst a community within the store.
“I want it to be a gathering space as much as I want it to be a clothing boutique,” Marion said.
The long-term goal of the new space is to be a place people come to for shopping and feel comfortable as well as a place for events and speakers within fashion. The new location provides more space and a more polished fashion store all together. Marion hopes The Closet turns into a place that people will always want to come to for various reasons.