Apricot Lane clothing store opens in Smithtown
A lifelong love of clothes led Christine Martin to share her passion for fashion in her new Apricot Lane boutique, which opened in April in her hometown of Smithtown.
Martin’s first venture into retail, Apricot Lane is a family effort: Martin got an assist from her husband, Simon, who helped with the floors, ceiling, wall units and more, as well as from her son, Michael, 18, and daughters, Chloe, 11, Charlotte, 23, and Isabella, 15, who works at the boutique with her. The kids helped lay down the wood floor and build clothing racks, and also offer support along the way. “Everyone helped make this happen,” Martin says.
A franchise of independently owned boutiques, this is its first Long Island location. Apricot Lane is known for its support of humanitarian causes. The shop partners with fashion accessory company Noble Venture, which sells 3 Strands bracelets, all handcrafted by girls rescued from human trafficking and those in at-risk communities.
Apricot Lane boutiques are part of Country Visions, a California-based franchiser that opened its first gift shop in 1991 and expanded to include the Apricot Lane women’s fashion and gift boutiques in 2007. The partners of Country Visions established 3 Strands, now known as Noble Venture, to aid artisans in Haiti, Nepal, Cambodia, Vietnam, Guatemala, Romania, East Africa and the United States.
“When I heard it’s franchise backed and I could pick my own clothing, design my own store and it has this humanitarian aspect to it, that was it for me,” says Martin.
Though her background is in business and she’s never worked in fashion, Martin feels confident in her innate abilities and defined aesthetic.
“I’ve been obsessed with fashion since I could remember, wearing feathers and sequins as a little kid,” says Martin, who grew up in Holbrook. “I thought, you know what: everyone keeps telling me I have great taste, so let's try it.”
The boutique offers clothing for all ages, from young girls to women, ranging from sizes XS to XL.
“The goal for me is that a grandmother, a mother and a granddaughter can all come in and walk out with something,” she says.
Martin picks out her clothing, jewelry, hats and belts with a focus on what she believes women will look good in.
“It’s really empowering women when they get here to all feel good about themselves, leave with something and leave feeling good about themselves.”
Prices start at $7 for a 3 Strands bracelet and go up to $250 for Paige designer jeans.
Apricot Lane Boutique, 43 NY-111, Smithtown, 631-406-6661, apricotlaneboutique.com