Purpose Boutique’s owners hope to repeat their successful combination of clothing and charitable giving in Kirkland as they’ve had in Bremerton.

The grand opening of their second store is an indication of the business’ popularity after being open for a little more than a year at its first location. Founder Christie Johnson and co-owner Amy Witt believe the affordable clothing and strong focus on the organizations they support will appeal to Kirkland residents looking to make more ethical and responsible purchases. Both Johnson and Witt described the clothing selection as ranging from stay at home to cocktail dresses, and the styles carry a blend of southern formality and northwestern edginess, according to Johnson, a native of Charlotte, N.C.

Johnson said she first opened Purpose Boutique with her husband, Flip, and friend Ashleigh. At the time, she had a one year old and three year old to take care of, which she said proved to be a challenge, especially when Flip, who is in the Navy, was gone on deployment.

Eventually she opened a store when she felt there was enough support, but also felt it was a step of faith – a step that found solid ground. She said they met their first month’s sales goals within the first week, and by the end of the month they had tripled their original goal.

One of the things that draws people in, Johnson said, is the customized styling experience where the stylists help customers pick out clothing.

“People love that when they come in, we are there to give them the best customer service,” she said. “My natural gift is styling. One of the goals was to let women participate in style no matter where they are.”

“The service you normally pay for, we give it to them for free,” Witt added.

Another goal was to be more conscious of where their money went. In addition to clothing, they also offer jewelry made by women from Third World countries, allowing them to earn a viable income. They also donate profits to Hope for Our Sisters, which helps women in Angola, and Rescue Freedom International, an organization that rescues victims of human trafficking. Witt, a former consultant for the Gates Foundation and friend of Johnson, said she first started out as a customer of Purpose Boutique, then acted as an advisor and finally joined after Johnson convinced her. Witt said her time spent in East Africa showed her the value of creating dignified work for people there.

“A business can create so much value,” she said. “Our goal is to have every piece of clothing and jewelry made by people that are dignified for it.”

To that end, they intend to start their own clothing line in the near future, which they said will provide jobs for refugee women.

A selection of their clothes and other information about Purpose Boutique can be found at purposeboutique.com.