Photo by Zak Wood

Julia Taft, right, an intern at Common Threads, shows co-owner Libby Alexander a design for a mural that will be painted outside the store.

What if there was a place in Boulder where you could pick up a pair of gently worn Seven jeans, a Rebecca Taylor top, Dolce & Gabbana shoes and a Louis Vuitton handbag for a fraction of the price?

And what if you could hand-tailor these purchases in the store with high-tech sewing machines?

There is such a place: It's called Common Threads, 2707 Spruce St., and it's a designer consignment boutique and sewing lab.

Co-owner Libby Alexander says the high-end consignment niche hadn't been prominent in Boulder, so her and co-owner Mae Martin's idea was born.

Alexander has a design background, including working for the likes of Prada in Beverly Hills, J. Mendel in Aspen and as a personal stylist.

Her dream of opening a shop came true in November 2007 when the consignment shop was born.

"With the economy hurting, people are really excited about what we offer at Common Threads," Alexander says in a press release. "Consigners can make money and recycle their high-end clothes. Buyers can save money and afford designer brands.

"And everyone can be creative in our sewing lab."

The goods

The store is lined with rows of many barely blemished shoes by Jimmy Choo, Mark Jacob, Jill Stuart, Anne Klein, Via Spiga, Stuart Weitzman, Coach, Donald Pliner and more.

"I just got a great Louis Vuitton bag in last night," Alexander says. "We've got great Jimmy Choo shoes and really amazing shoes for Boulder -- I just never see people wearing these crazy shoes around!"

There are racks and racks of clothes by Seven, Armani, Gucci, True Religion, Joe's and more. Alexander says whatever consignment is brought in is split 50-50 with the seller, and will stay on the floor for 45 days.

"There doesn't seem to be any other place in Boulder where you really have access to high-end fashion," says Heather Willison, president of Boulder-based SNAP! Public Relations, which represents the store.

Creative mentoring

Creative Threads co-owner Martin also is a co-founder of AIM House, a residential mentoring program for young adults. The program is designed for those transitioning from treatment and rehabilitation centers, wilderness programs and therapeutic boarding schools.

Creative Threads works closely with AIM House in offering young adults a chance to use their creativity through internships.

Samantha Randall, a mentor with the women's program at AIM House, also is the project coordinator for the interns at Common Threads.

She says the internship helps young adults explore their interests through fashion, whether it is retail, management or the creative end.

"What I think that is so interesting is the intersection of fashion and creativity at Common Threads," Randall says. "The intern program ... gives a kind of other level of creative work and outlet that the participants are able to engage in here."

Intern Liz Wesik is creating and developing the store's Web site.

"It's a great environment," Wesik says. "I can learn and have this amazing creative freedom to collaborate with all these people."

Wesik says Alexander and Martin created a working environment where people actually enjoy coming to work. She says she likes being able to use the job for her creativity.

"We're thinking about innovative things," Wesik says. "It's not about fashion and branding. It's about moving the industry in a new direction."

Intern Julia Taft, who went to San Francisco Art Institute over the summer, is mocking up a digital mural on a computer, which will be sketched and painted on the outside of the building.

"I really like the creative aspect here," Taft says. "They allow us -- even as employees -- to take free classes to get to know stuff, or how to use the machines. And they know I'm interested in art so they let me paint, do the mural and get involved in creative projects."

Intern Adam Pugh, running the front register, has been working with Common Threads for five months.

"I like the uncertainty of things," Pugh says. "You can get anything in at any time. I like the eclectic mix of all the clothes."

Creative lab

The sewing lab in a separate room at the back of the boutique has six top-of-the-line Bernia sewing machines and some cutting tables.

Alexander says she wanted to open a shop where there was space for creativity.

The owners offer classes such as leather tooling and belt making, knitting, costume creating and more. Customers can even rent the creative lab for sewing parties and craft making. There also are classes where you can add new and creative touches to spice up old, drab clothing.

"We have a fun alterations class, or a restyled clothing class," Alexander says. "You can take an old jacket and put really fun lining in it."