Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1496909
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM APRIL 12 - 18, 2023 UCW 11 FEATURE Fed up with size-exclusive fashion, Fayetteville cousins Mary Conrad and Alex Shoup have made it their mission to bring style and confidence to every woman that walks through their doors or logs into their app — no matter what size they wear. 2313 Glitter Ave., Fayetteville's first fully size- inclusive boutique, is located at 1009 Marlborough Road. Carrying sizes ranging from small to 3X in nearly every clothing item, the unique boutique encourages women of all shapes and sizes to "Wear the Whatever." From miniskirts to crop tops, 2313 Glitter Ave.'s brand of body positivity extends to every woman and every body. Established as an Etsy shop in 2015, the online boutique was originally in the cute accessories busi- ness before venturing into fashion. Selling items like vinyl decals, stickers and drinkware, the shop added clothing in 2018 to increase its revenue — but soon ran into an all too common issue. "Ordering a small, medium or large package of clothing is really limiting," Shoup explained. "If I'm not technically plus-sized, but I'm struggling to fit into these clothes — what about everyone else?" In an industry where "plus size" is marketed as an entirely different section with completely different styles, 2313 Glitter Ave. bridges the gap between what fashion has been and what it needs to be. By 2019, the online boutique was fully inclusive. After going viral in 2020, Shoup and Conrad pur- chased their first warehouse and launched the 2313 Glitter Ave. app. Despite the uncertainty surround- ing the pandemic, the ladies of Glitter Ave. knew they had something special and took a leap of faith — selling out their inventory in a matter of weeks. While fearlessness is certainly one ingredient in the boutique's recipe for success, it's also the dedi- cation Shoup and Conrad bring to the business that has made it such a hit with shoppers worldwide. Not content to simply have size-inclusive items in stock, 2313 Glitter Ave. goes live for its custom- ers daily with a full slate of size-inclusive models ready to show real inventory on real bodies. eir various social media platforms, which boast over 200,000 followers, have garnered a reputation for being body-positive and uplifting — a mantle the owners carry with pride. "Wear the whatever — that's our motto," Shoup explained. "What- ever you think you can't wear — wear it. We try to go above and be- yond to help women find clothes that make them feel confident and comfortable. We're trying to build self-confidence and self-love while selling clothes on the side." e two women, who've now been in business for over eight years, are excited to bring the same thoughtful experience their shoppers receive online to their new storefront. Brick-and-mortar Glitter Ave. will have the same flair as its internet presence but with little touches that speak to a unique understanding of its customers. Flattering lighting and large air-conditioned dressing rooms bring dignity and comfort to an experience many women can find frustrating. "We really try to step back and see that we're a comfortable space for everyone to try on clothes," said Shoup. 2313 Glitter Ave. officially opened its doors on March 25 and will run on a limited schedule for now. Featuring many of the same styles, including an all-inclusive line of swimwear, found on their app and website, the clever boutique is a one-stop shop for Fayetteville's most fashionable shoppers. Additionally, the boutique offers convenient local pick-up on Blount Street through their app for those who can't find what they're looking for onsite. While they're more than happy to provide such an important service, Shoup hopes 2313's success opens the door for more boutiques to widen their selections. "We're just a boutique, but it's so much more than that," Shoup shared. "We're changing lives. We want to break stigmas and let women know, small or large: they can wear anything they want. It's one of the main reasons we do what we do, and we really want to bring that to Fayetteville. I hope more stores and boutiques will expand their sizing, but we're happy to be the first." To shop, visit https://2313glitterave.com/. 2313 Glitter Ave. is located at 1009 Marlborough Road. Business hours are Wednesdays, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., and every 2nd Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Local women expand successful online shop to a store in Fayetteville offering size-inclusive fashion by ASHLEY SHIRLEY Mary Conrad (left) and Alex Shoup (right) are on a mission to bring confidence and style to women of all sizes. ey recently expanded their online shopping experience to a storefront on Marlborough Road in Fayetteville. (All photos by Isaiah Jones) ASHLEY SHIRLEY, Staff Writer. COMMENTS? editor@upandcom- ingweekly.com. 910-484-6200.