From the age of eight, Nancy Algrim was fascinated by fabrics and fibers, sewing and weaving baskets from fibers. After earning a Fine Arts degree with a focus on fibers, Algrim arrived in the Valley in 1982 with dreams of opening a boutique in Mission. Lacking the money to buy inventory for a shop, she began teaching art classes while sewing on the side.
Her Black Iris Boutique and Gallery opened soon after and became a place for contemporary apparel. Her shop carries Eileen Fisher and Flax labels, which are constructed of all natural fibers with solid colors predominating.
“Eileen Fisher is high end, and Flax is well-made but more affordable,” said the petite Algrim. “Eileen Fisher has a cult following. For some people who like that line, that is all they wear. More people mix them because the two lines look good with each other.”
In April, Algrim was already ordering fall clothing for the boutique.
Personal service and Algrim’s sense of style and taste have everything to do with Black Iris’s longevity.
“The idea is to wear solid colors and accessorize them. You’ll wear those pieces longer,” she advised after nearly 30 years of boutique ownership. “A lot of women know what they want, but they like to get reinforcement. They like to get my opinion. Even with the economy like it is, we’re still here. I’ve had some customers forever.”
The loyal customers know that Algrim reworks hems free of charge and provides the same service gratis for most alternations of items purchased at Black Iris. A customer who moved to Philadelphia makes a point of shopping at Black Iris when she returns to the Valley.
For more of this story by Eileen Mattei, pick up a copy of the May edition of Valley Business Report, on news stands now, or visit the “Current & Past Issues” tab on this Web site.