Article Text
Golden Hour Collective is bringing decades of fashion under one roof, offering racks of vintage clothing alongside secondhand jewelry and home decor in Washington’s Adams Morgan neighborhood.
The boutique places particular emphasis on styles from the 1990s and early 2000s, an era enjoying renewed attention from shoppers. Vendor Taylor Myers said brands such as Juicy Couture and Coach are among those making a comeback.
For co-founder Sharon Jordan, vintage shopping offers something mass-produced fashion often cannot: the thrill of finding a distinctive piece.
“No one else is going to be wearing that thing, whether it’s jewelry or shoes or a top,” Jordan said.
Five women with different backgrounds, creative perspectives and fashion tastes founded the collective. Their ages range from 24 to 56, giving the store an aesthetic that crosses generations.
The business began holding pop-up events in December. Encouraging feedback from customers persuaded the founders to establish a permanent boutique, which recently began operating full time.
Its Feb. 7 grand opening featured local DJ Dora Levite and drew a positive response. Jordan said favorable reviews have also come from people living nearby.
Golden Hour opened near several other vintage stores, but its owners see those businesses as potential collaborators rather than simply competitors. Jordan said the growing cluster is helping Adams Morgan gain recognition as a vintage-shopping destination in D.C.
Most merchandise at Golden Hour costs about $10 to $30. The owners aim to keep prices accessible while reflecting the quality and distinctive character of their inventory.
That approach depends on selling a large volume of goods instead of relying on a smaller selection of expensive pieces. It also creates a demanding search for new inventory.
The owners and vendors hunt for merchandise at thrift stores, church bazaars and online. Myers described the process as a treasure hunt, while Jordan said the constant effort to keep the selection fresh can be exhausting.
Golden Hour does not yet have employees, leaving its founders to handle store operations while continuing to source new items.
As the young business establishes itself, its owners hope it will become a lasting part of the neighborhood’s fashion community and encourage more environmentally conscious shopping.
“We are very slowly starting to make our way around as a known entity,” Jordan said. “I hope that we can continue to be known [as that], and have [some] sort of positive effect on the neighborhood.”