‘It’s an upscale shopping experience with a very affordable price tag.?
That’s how co-owner Ana Flavia Easlick describes Ella Fashion, a downtown Oxford Brazilian fashion store she co-owns with business partner and good friend Lisiane ‘Lisi? DeCampos.
Ella Fashion began as a home-based boutique of DeCampos?, but has grown into a quaint, cozy shop at 24 S. Washington St., which opened in November.
Easlick and DeCampos are both Brazilian, and the store features clothing, shoes and jewelry, all from Brazil, South America’s largest country. Ella Fashion’s merchandise comes primarily from the southern Brazilian state of Paran?.
‘We buy the clothing from many manufacturers,? said Easlick.
Because DeCampos? mother worked in Brazil’s fashion industry and still has many business contacts down there in the manufacturing and distributing businesses, she helps them acquire the items the store sells.
‘She’s our eyes in Brazil,? Easlick said. ‘She chooses our pieces and helps us with importing process.?
For the store, the ladies never buy in bulk but prefer to acquire one-of-a-kind pieces to give their customers as much variety as possible. The clothes also vary in colors and sizes ranging from small to extra large. They receive shipments of new clothes every week.
‘We’re always rotating merchandise, and our tops and dresses really seem to be well received,? Easlick said. ‘Our lines of jackets in winter sold out in record time.?
Right now, the store is doing well, and Easlick believes it stems from the appeal of Brazilian fashion.
‘Our fashion is definitely different from anything you find here in Michigan and in the country,? she explained. ‘Brazilian fashion gets a lot of influence from European fashion trends. Our clothing has different forms and cuts and looks really flattering on women when they put it on. They can see the difference and can tell it’s not made in bulk in China. It’s something that feels different on your body when you wear it, whether small or extra large.?
Besides the dresses, tops and shoes, Ella Fashion also sells colorful jewelry’necklaces, rings, earrings and both casual, everyday along with jewelry for evening wear. They also carry a Bio-Jewelry line made from natural beads and even fruit seeds from Brazil.
Because both Easlick and DeCampos are mothers of young children, they designed the layout of their shop for mothers with small children. It features two seated, mini-living room areas along with a basement play area where children can play while their mothers shop.
‘When customers come here, they feel comfortable,? Easlick explained. ‘It’s not overcrowded with merchandise. We wanted it to be extension of people’s homes so they can browse with ease.?
Oxford’s cold winters might be vastly different from Brazil’s hot summers, but for the two ladies, Michigan is now home and a place to showcase their native country’s fashions.
‘We want people to come and have fun and not to worry about paying $500 for a dress,? DeCampos said. ‘We’re moms with young kids and want clothes to be affordable and can feel comfortable in their beauty.?
The shop also hosts private parties, and the party hostess can choose a free dress and top depending on how many people they bring to the party.
For the holidays, Ella Fashion is open Mondays through Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 11-6 p.m. and Sundays from 1-5 p.m.
For more information call 248-236-8386 or visit Ella Fashion’s website at www.ellafashiononline.com.