Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Redmond.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My mother, Melly, and I have always traded clothes and we believe that style is ageless. So, we thought, why not make a business out of it? Modasi is an acronym for mother, daughter, sister. It’s a place where you and your mother, your aunt, cousins, friends and daughters can all shop and find something you all love. We started online in July of 2016, but being the social butterflies we are, we were eager to open a storefront. My mom and I were actually grabbing breakfast down the street one morning and decided to take a walk and see what else was in downtown La Grange and saw this space available for rent. It was perfect. It’s narrow and tiny, yes, but we like to consider ourselves a hidden gem in La Grange. And the address — 15 1/2 South La Grange Road — just sounded like something straight out of a Harry Potter book. It was definitely love at first site. We opened the brick and mortar location in December 2016 and we’ve been trying to establish ourselves in the community ever since.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been one of the hardest things we’ve ever done. It’s a lot of long hours, a lot of sacrifice, a lot of wondering and worrying whether or not this is going to work or not. Thankfully, our customers are awesome; they make it worth it. It has been a struggle trying to get our name out there and for people to find out we’re here, but I can’t even describe the feeling of watching someone’s face light up when they do find us and when they find something that make them feel beautiful.
Please tell us about Modasi.
We’re a women’s clothing boutique, which specializes in bridging the generational gap. We are known for our great selection and honest, affordable prices. I can’t tell you how many times someone has said “you could charge a lot more for this.” For us, it’s not about uncharging our customers. Instead, we’re on a mission to provide pieces our customers can feel beautiful in and an environment which brings women together. Too often we break each other down when we should be building each other up and I do believe Modasi does that.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Oh boy, where to start? I was a very dramatic child. I always wanted to be in the spotlight. I had dreams of being an actress and so, even from a young age, I tried to dress like a Hollywood starlet. That involved me stealing clothes from my mom’s closet, including her high heels that were at least 10 sizes too big on me. I have always looked up to my mom, her sense of style and fashion. I truly believed she deserved to be on the pages of “Vogue.” One of my favorite pictures from my childhood is me in my mom’s fur coat. I had to be around 4 years old and of course I’m swimming in the coat, but the look on my face is priceless. My mom is still way more stylish than me, so she is the absolute perfect partner to open a clothing store with, right?
Pricing:
- Our dresses typically range from $25-45
- We have jewelry and accessories starting at around $10
- There is nothing in our store over $150
Contact Info:
- Address: Modasi
15 1/2 South La Grange Road
La Grange, Illinois 60525 - Website: shopmodasi.com
- Phone: 708.639.4881
- Email: info@shopmodasi.com
- Instagram: @shopmodasi
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ShopModasi
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/modasi-la-grange
Image Credit:
Erin Redmond/Modasi
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
