BLEEDING HEART BOUTIQUE
Athens Fashion Gets New Compassion
BY AVERY ST. GEORGE PHOTOS BY NATE CONKLIN
The Bleeding Heart Boutique can be found a little off of Court Street next to a quaint record store. It’s a bit off the beaten path, which is fitting because its contents are not exactly ordinary. The boutique sells vintage and handmade clothes, accessories, and trinkets. Anything from earrings to purses to jeans to stickers, you can find in the boutique.
Owner Hannah Morgan opened the store in July, so some Ohio University students probably haven’t had a chance to get acquainted with the store since returning to school.
When you walk in, you are greeted by a colorful shop with racks of vintage clothes. The walls are decorated with bright orange, purple, and yellow waves, which were hand-painted over many days by Morgan and her friend, Kate Maynard. Each section of the store has something interesting about it that makes the store intriguing to patrons.
The effort Morgan has put into the store hasn’t gone unnoticed by customers. Leah Ziegler, a junior studying psychology and English, said she keeps returning to the store because of Morgan’s dedication to her storefront.
“I’m just impressed by how much work the owner put into it,” Ziegler said. “She did it all on her own. It’s decorated literally amazingly.”
As soon as you walk in, you can tell love and care have gone into the store, and this is also extended to interactions with the community. Ziegler, who has been to the boutique multiple times, said every customer service interaction she’s had has been positive.
“The owner, she’s really sweet and interactive with her customers,” Ziegler said, “Every time I’ve gone in there she’s struck up a conversation.”
A sense of community is curated by this little boutique in Athens. Along with the effort that has gone into decorations and customer service, Morgan also makes an effort to bring new goods into the store as much as possible. The store is restocked at least once per week, so there are always new pieces to find. Maynard, who has been helping Morgan with the store since April, said her favorite piece was a mid-length strawberry print dress that was draped over a mannequin at the front of the store.
“It is definitely very fun to curate different looks with similar themes from different eras,” Maynard said.
In addition to vintage clothes, the boutique also sells handmade jewelry, as well as an assortment of accessories like buttons, purses, hair clips, and shoes. There is no limit to imagination at Bleeding Heart Boutique.
Maynard said Morgan started the store because she wanted it to be a place where everyone is included and can dress however they want. The environment of Bleeding Heart Boutique is a very positive and uplifting one, and it even makes working there feel fun.
“Everyone’s really nice,” Maynard said. “It always feels good to be here. It’s always uplifting.”
Whether you love vintage clothes or creative items or just want to check out a new shop, it’s definitely worth stopping by Bleeding Heart Boutique. The atmosphere, customer service, and one-of-a-kind pieces make it a worthwhile experience, and it’s an environment where you’ll never feel judged. If you do end up at Bleeding Heart Boutique, don't be afraid to try something new or out of your comfort zone because you may be surprised by how good it makes you feel.
