Some people you meet in your lifetime make you wonder if they have managed to cut a deal with the Universe for a few extra hours in their particular day? They accomplish so much and are effective in so many endeavors that it seems that they have discovered some secret. Hillary Flowers makes you wonder these things. Fashion designer, singer, store owner, event planner & promoter, and brain surgeon…okay I fibbed on the last one but you get my point. Hillary owns and operates her Lower East Side boutique that showcases emerging design talent during many of those hours. Her space features her own designs, as well as fashion and accessories from other aspiring designers. “I take great joy in offering designers an opportunity to test the market, to find out what works and what doesn’t work.”
Hillary is a fascinating combination of altruistic and shrewd. She takes great joy in the fact that she has a growing reputation in New York City but you never get the sense that for her it is about ego. A case in point, she loves it when designers move on from her store to bigger and better things. “I consider myself a teacher, mentor and guide.” “Why wouldn’t I be proud of some one I helped success?” Hillary gauges designers quickly when the come to try to rent space in her store “I look for people who possess certain qualities, you have to be a risk taker and have persistence.” For Hillary Flowers it is often times more about the spirit of the designer than the look of the collection.
Hillary is a talented designer in her own right and her designs are the #1 seller in her store. But she gets so much joy from helping launch new talent into the N.Y.C scene that she rarely speaks of her own work. Hillary is a non-stop marketer and a powerful ally for the new talent that lines her small but vibrant Clinton Street shop. If you really want to see what’s the newest of the new then her store at 40 Clinton Street is a must stop. And don’t be surprised if you see her blond locks up on stage at a club where you are spending your evening. Quite frankly with all of Hillary’s talents I wouldn’t be surprised to see her driving the Q train on my way back to Brooklyn one of these nights.
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For as long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with stories of entrepreneurs – from how they got their start onto the path leading to where they are now. I especially love to read stories of women who saw a need and acted on it to fill a void in the marketplace. As such, I’ve decided to create a space to showcase women entrepreneurs on What’s Haute, called ‘Women On Top‘.
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