For Jamie Richardson and Kathryn Richardson, owners of Ember Boutique in the Heights, fashion is about more than just wearing and selling what’s “in style;” it’s about offering unique clothes that are soft and feminine, and oftentimes, handmade by them. “I think personal style should be as intuitive as possible and you should wear things because they make you feel a certain way, or act as a means for self expression,” said Jamie. “I think most fashion crimes are the ones that are never attempted.”
Their love of fashion isn’t the only common thread they share. They’re also sisters-in-law; Jamie is married to Adam Richardson, and Kathryn is married to Adam’s younger brother, Cullen Richardson.
Each of the women has richly woven histories in fashion. Jamie, an El Dorado native, majored in fashion merchandising at Harding Universiy and finished her certification in fashion design with an emphasis in fashion illustration in Santa Fe. Immediately after college she began working in product development for Dillard’s and later in boutique sales at Elle Ladies’ Apparel and others.
Kathryn, who was born and raised in Pittsburgh, interned with Mimi Maternity in Philadelphia during college. After graduation, she accepted a position as assistant boys designer at Dillard’s, Inc., before moving to Hong Kong where she says she was constantly inspired by the culture and shopping.
“The short version of the story is that Kathryn and I wanted to make a living doing what we loved,” said Jamie. “We knew we had the ability and opportunity, and together we had the confidence to take a chance. We had both been creating and selling our designs at a local boutique, but wanted to maximize our production and profits.”
In late 2008 their dreams came to fruition when Kathryn purchased several suitcase loads of fashion-forward clothes from Hong Kong and Jamie got a deal on an office space in west Little Rock. “We planned on setting up a modest showroom with our styles (which we constructed on-site), selling Kathryn’s Hong Kong pieces, and maybe carrying some affordable and casual styles purchased on the occasional market trip.”
“Kathryn and I had several areas of focus when we opened: handmade goods, organic/green wearable products, and affordable prices,” said Jamie. “We were blown away with the response towards our prices. Therefore it became our primary focus. Obviously, moving to the Heights was the best decision we’ve made. An unbeatable location combined with our pricing strategy (nothing over $75 now) allows us to keep a fresh sales floor with new shipments arriving twice a week and an almost complete inventory turnover occurring monthly.”
And Jamie and Kathryn (who has recently moved to Washington, D.C., but is still very much involved with Ember) maintain a section of their store devoted to their handmade items. “Most of the handmade items are very simple silhouettes with a twist, i.e. appliqués, ruffles or hand-painted accents,” said Jamie. “We have to walk a fine line of indulging our creative whims and converting an item into a quick sell.”
Behind the Seams
Soirée: Defining moments?
Jamie Richardson: I had a portfolio (manila folder stapled around the edges with custom-made paper dolls and dresses) by age 6 or 7. My Aunt Ann is an arts and crafts master and sat beside me in her studio from a very early age and gave me projects. She made me feel very important and talented, and a little of that goes a long way for a small girl.
Kathryn Richardson: I first started sewing because my mom is an avid quilter. She taught me how to sew, and I was always making clothes for myself. In high school I wrote a business plan for a boutique in a marketing class and after interviewing the owner of one of my favorite boutiques, found buying and selling really appealing. I really fell in love with fashion design when my academics became hands-on in clothing construction.
What is the one accessory you must have?
JR: Boots can cure a world of hurt.
KR: A chunky chain-linked necklace goes with every outfit, dressy or casual
Complete this sentence. I will never wear …
JR: A bodysuit. You know, onesies for adults. They’re out there again, thanks to American Apparel.
KR: A sheer blouse that shows my bra.
What’s in your bag?
JR: Hmmm … vitamins, tunes, books, my lunch, lots of lip gloss, various shopping lists on the backs of old receipts, business cards, my planner — Did I mention I like oversized bags?
KR: Day planner, five different lip glosses, headband, two hairclips, at least one pair of earrings—always have backup accessories.