From vintage to new: Local online eco boutique hosts Boulder trunk show
By Christy Fantz (Contact)
Sunday, November 9, 2008
IF YOU GO
What: Cocosshoppe.com trunk show
When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Kitchen Upstairs, 1039 Pearl St., Boulder
Cost: Free
Eco vintage luxe.
That's what Coco's Shoppe founder Heather Smith calls her products.
Hair couture headbands with vibrant vintage kimono cloth, hand embellished with Swarovski crystals.
Artsy organic T-shirts with reclaimed applique fabric.
Wide-legged indigo organic denim trousers.
Dresses made of 1940s, '50s and '60s factory-surplus fabric from New York City's garment district.
"It's the most gorgeous fabric," says Smith of a black-and-fuchsia polka-dot Doucette Duvall wrap dress. "Rather than having to make new gorgeous fabric like this, there's some laying around that they can use to make what we call eco vintage luxe."
Coco's Shoppe -- www.cocosshoppe.com -- is a Boulder-based online eco-boutique that provides an assortment of stylish and sustainable fashions.
On Saturday afternoon, the boutique is hosting a trunk show at the Kitchen Upstairs, 1039 Pearl St., where Smith's products can be purchased at a 30-to-80 percent discount.
"You can get $360 vegan leather shoes for 80 bucks!" says Smith.
There will be everything from shoes to dresses, jeans to purses and even accessories from companies such as J Brand, Edun, Park Vogel, Eberjey, Loomstate and more.
Local designers Jesse Walker Knit Goods and KDS also will be selling eco-conscious pieces at the show. Smith says Kelly B Couture, the line from flourishing San Francisco eco designer and CU graduate Kelly Marie Barry, will be featured as well.
"It's going to be a really fabulous local shopping extravaganza," Smith says.
University of Colorado senior Caitlin Boyle, a public relations intern for Coco's Shoppe, says she thinks being fashionable and sustainable can be synonymous.
"Style is about expressing yourself," Boyle says. "People that are passionate about being eco-conscious can have style and express themselves as well. Coco's Shoppe gives you an opportunity to do that."
Smith started Coco's Shoppe on Earth Day of 2006, and says it was one of the first exclusively online eco boutiques.
After finishing graduate school, Smith moved to Boulder and made a foray into natural beauty products. She says her love for fashion and concern for the well being of the planet led her to open an eco boutique.
Smith operates her shop out of her home, walks or bikes her shipments to the post office and uses environmentally intelligent cradle-to-cradle certification.
"I'm really able to keep a low carbon footprint while reaching a multitude of people," Smith says. "They are shopping on my Web site for fashion first, but while they're there, they'll be educated about the sustainable descriptions of the clothes."
Boyle says the trunk show, which the boutique has semi-annually, will allow Coco's Shoppe to reach out to its Boulder customers.
Smith agrees.
"Since I am online and don't have a boutique, it's just really exciting to connect with the local customers," she says.
Shoppers who sign up at www.cocosshoppe.com by midnight Thursday will receive a $20 coupon via e-mail Friday to shop with at the show, and Smith says everyone will receive a free gift with purchase.
"The great thing about a lot of these products is the designers come up with such interesting and original ideas for their products," Boyle says.
Smith adds: "They really are truly unique, vintage pieces."

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