So what exactly is the “Velvet Tower”? Well, to say that is an upscale vintage clothing
boutique would be an understatement. It definitely is part boutique, but it is also part fashion
consultant, stylist, locator service, mobile trunk show, and steward of stylistic clothing art
all rolled into one. “I wanted to create a place for people to go play with and wear old stuff
as well as pay homage to all of the women in my family,” explains Bernstein. “I wanted to
provide my customers with more of an experience than just a clothing shop.” And that is
exactly what she has done. Her showroom & boutique is quite fitting. It is nestled into a
single-story old home in Detroit’s historic Hamtramck neighborhood. You can find dresses
in the living room, pants & blouses in the kitchen and dining room, hats & shoes in the back
bedroom, and coats & jackets in the master bedroom. It is like being in a mini department
store. She is open a few days during the week and by appointment, and then on the weekends
she takes the entire show on the road to such places as Detroit’s Eastern Market, festivals
& art shows, and many other places in Detroit’s booming pop-up event culture.
So where does Bernstein source all of these vintage
clothing treasures? “I could tell you, but then I’d have to
kill you!” She laughs as she cleverly dodges the question.
“I quickly had to learn to adjust a lot.” She explains.
“Detroiters are very savvy and already know how to
thrift, so I have to really search many different sources
around the country to be able to deliver unique one-of-
a-kind pieces.” She also has become quite well known
in certain circles so she gets approached frequently by
collectors, liquidators, and estate sellers. “I think people
see her and just really admire what she is doing.” Says
longtime friend Cochrane. “Her personal style is like a
living collage. She truly lives her life in her own aesthetic
in an environment surrounded by clothes.”
Bernstein’s hope is to develop a brand and expand her
business in creative & unconventional ways, as well as
get involved with social missions in the community. “I
definitely want to open a more traditional storefront, and
I want there to be a strong mobile element,” she reveals.
“I want to develop a clothes truck model, and I want to
collaborate with other creative minded people in the
industry.” Her hope is to keep growing and expanding
so she is able to help develop and establish fashion-
related training programs in the Detroit Public School
System and through local non-profits, such as the work
she is currently doing with the “Immigrants Sewing”
charity in Hamtramck that teaches immigrant women
real-life trade skills that they can use to earn a living
wage.
The Velvet Tower will definitely be the one to watch as
Detroit's new-found fashion renaissance continues to unfold
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