Runway show offers a glimpse of new store at Island Gateway - BI Review

By DENNIS ANSTINE
Bainbridge Island Review Editor
December 12, 2011 · Updated 3:01 PM

And now, it can be said, Bainbridge Island has had its own invitation-only fashion show. With more to come.

Willie Wenzlau/For the Review Heather, a model in last Friday’s fashion show at Island Gateway, was one of three women who displayed the collections sold by Aloisa by Kristin Ryann Vogt, a new store that opened last weekend at the new development on Winslow Way.
Willie Wenzlau/For the Review

There was nothing too fancy about last Friday’s Island Gateway event, which served as an entrée to the opening of a new women’s clothing store Saturday in the new development at the intersection of Winslow Way and State Route 305.

The store is named Aloisa by Kristin Ryann Vogt – after the owner and a line of women’s clothing she will be introducing, along with several other collections.

Vogt has owned a women’s clothing store in Poulsbo for four years, but moved to Bainbridge three years ago with the goal of “bringing fashion forward” on the island.

The new 1,000-square-foot store will offer “clothing that’s a little more hip and not everyday wear,” she said. “We will have some clothes for high school girls, but the market is mainly aimed at women 18 to 50.”

Vogt said she enjoyed the Poulsbo store, which is a small boutique that emphasizes casual wear. But she plans to close the Poulsbo store in January in order to focus on her new project.

“This has been my goal for some time,” said Vogt, who has lived in Kitsap for 11 years. “My dad was in textiles and I grew up in the industry.”

She had the opportunity to learn the business first hand and designed her own clothing line as a young woman living in Sarasota, Fla.

She put her passion behind her for many years “and did the family thing, but with the children now old enough, it was time for me to get back into it,” she said.

Her opener drew about 100 people, including existing clientele, community acquaintances and a list of former customers.

Since many of the people knew each other, the ground-floor room of the middle building was loud with laughter and chatter as people moved freely before, during and after the show, which ran for about 20 minutes.

“The intent was to show people where we are going with the new business,” she said. “We want to be inclusive of the community and for people to be excited about what we are doing. We will have another show with a spring collection.”

Vogt said she is well aware of other women clothiers on Bainbridge Island and is determined not be a direct competitor with them.

“We’re going in our own direction just like most people do,” she said. “We are not trying to compete with others on the island. In most instances we won’t be carrying the same lines that others do.”
The store will be open six days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., though Vogt is still undecided on what day the store will be closed.

Contact Bainbridge Island Review Editor Dennis Anstine at editor@bainbridgereview.com or (206) 842-6613.