Discovering hidden gems in small towns is like striking gold; the diversity of the product is endless. Naturally, during a trip to the Midwest I couldn’t resist checking out the local shopping. A great and unique edition to the town is CLOTH / Lefty’s boutique, which is a combination of two retailers that have complementary tastes and product. This week I chatted with the co-operator of the boutique and founder of Lefty’s in Carmel, Indiana.
Name: Mary Godley
Role: Co-Operator and Founder, Lefty’s
CollegeFashionista: What pushed you to start your own business?
Mary Godley: Business owning is very new to me. I did not come through the fashion industry. I actually have a master’s degree in education. I was teaching, started a family and had time to think about what I really wanted to do. I really loved the idea of owning a small store and selling independent brands. I started working at a children’s boutique in New York to gain some experience and understand how a small business operates. When I moved to Indiana, I opened pop-up shops to gauge what would sell here and understand the styles of the clientele. It’s been a little harder to find a market; product isn’t flying off the shelves like you would hope. However, people are receptive to the idea of supporting local artists and they recognize the quality of the product.
CF: What inspired the creation and growth of Lefty’s?
MG: The idea of bringing in designers and makers from all over the US and promoting conscious consumerism, like how much do you want to buy, do you care where it came from and do you know who made it? These independent brands serve as unique alternatives to larger corporate brands. Ultimately, they bring something new to Carmel [Indiana] that is not commonly found in a mall.
CF: Where do some of these brands originate?
MG: Currently, there are about five or six local brands that create clothing, accessories, jewelry and home décor. There are also some based out of New York and Los Angeles, or a few Etsy sellers that are now involved in wholesale. After living in New York for five years I got to see these brands and artists emerging that were creating original designs. When I moved here to Indiana I didn’t see anyone selling them, so I wanted to bring them here.
CF: What sets this store apart from other boutiques in Carmel?
MG: Our focus on independent designers and makers sets us apart because there are other boutiques that carry similar products. Also, our focus specifically on US made goods; other boutiques may carry a smaller range of products made in other countries. While foreign made goods are fine, you never know the practice behind the brand.
Learn More: To rediscover American-made dry goods, visit CLOTH / Lefty’s, located at 31 W. City Center Drive in Carmel, IN. You can also visit the shoppable website for Lefty’s product line.
