By Natalya Bucuy • The Current Contributing Writer
Eco-Friendly Boutique Welcomes Locals and Visitors
Once every couple of weeks, Elaine Tino and her husband get in the car and drive from Hazleton to Jim Thorpe to do some shopping in town. The main destination for this treat of a trip is Naturally Yours, the one-of-a-kind shop downtown that sells clothing, personal care items, and jewelry with sustainability in mind.
“The clothes are unique, they fit well, and are well crafted,” Tino says. “I really love the jewelry, too. I buy at least three pairs of earrings every time I come. It is a wonderful shop. I love it.” She jokes that she has to park her husband down the street so he doesn’t see everything she buys.
The eco-boutique attracts people like Tino from all around the area and beyond, as it gets its business from local regulars as well as the area’s tourists. Owner June Gaudreau says she ships to some repeat customers in locations as far as Nevada. What makes the shop special? Perhaps it’s the attention Gaudreau pays to sustainable practices with which her products are made. She carefully selects her vendors at trade shows, focusing on fair-trade standards, organic cotton materials, and hand-crafted and upcycled items. Gaudreau works with local crafters and made-in-USA products and clothes as much as possible.
The store offers organic cotton clothes, bamboo towels, and products made of modal – a fabric made from beech trees. The fresh smell of hand-made soaps greets the visitors at the door. Candles and personal care items made from beeswax and honey stress the importance of natural products in Gaudreau’s inventory.
Handbags created with patches of leather left from saddle production or scraps of tent fabric are examples of upcycling practices. “I try to keep it as sustainable as possible,” Gaudreau says. “My mission is to sell sustainable goods for low-impact living.”
Naturally Yours opened 15 years ago at a location just down the street from the current one, in a smaller space. Gaudreau remembers having trouble finding organic cotton clothes suppliers and then selling out most of her inventory in two weeks upon opening. That’s when she knew opening the store on Broadway in Jim Thorpe was the right choice. Since then, she has expanded her business, hiring two employees and adding to her growing list of suppliers.
In addition to its eco-conscious ideals, Naturally Yours is a solid member of Jim Thrope’s community. “We’ve been part of the neighborhood for a long time,” Gaudreau says. “I love hearing customer stories and happy moments.” She recalls grandmothers purchasing baby sweaters and finger poppets for their grandbabies and how good it feels to be such a personable business.
Naturally Yours Boutique is located at 81 Broadway in Jim Thorpe. The store hours are Sun. – Thurs. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Fri. – Sat. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from April to Dec. During the winter months, the store is generally open 10 a.m to 7 p.m. on the weekends, 10 am to 5 pm Sun. – Thurs., with occasional closures on Tues. or Wed., depending on the weather.
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