Off the rack

NINI’S BOUTIQUE
Image: Asiana Ponciano

Niftythrifter

by Asiana Ponciano | Feb 3, 2010

NINI’S BOUTIQUE / As a college student in Long Beach, Calif., Hawaii-born Nini Nguyen loved shopping at Buffalo Exchange, a mainland thrift-store with dozens of locations countrywide. It offered the kind of shopping experience–the classic neighborhood consignment shop with a twist–that Nguyen saw as lacking in the Islands. With a degree in fashion design and merchandising, plus years of retail experience and a knack for forecasting fashion trends, she created Nini’s Boutique, a clothing consignment store that has a boutique feel.

Nini’s Boutique sells clothing by luxury labels such as Chanel, Ralph Lauren and Missoni. Nguyen prides herself on her barely used, fairly new stock of dresses, tops, jeans and shoes.

Prices, depending on brand, rarity and quality, range between $19 and $1,000 or even higher in some cases. For example, a Chanel piece that originally cost $2,800 will be sold for $1,200, says Nguyen. If you’re not looking for a second-hand Betsey Johnson dress or a pair of Christian Louboutin heels, Nini’s Boutique also carries new dresses and shoes that are right on trend and modest in price.

Nguyen says her boutique literally has a different smell than thrift store counterparts, which she attributes to the fact that she selects clothing with a discerning eye. People can sell their clothing or leave it on a consignment basis.

Nini’s is packed with one-of-a-kind finds thanks to local fashionistas who purge their closets. Nguyen admits that she is always surprised when someone comes in with beautiful items saying, ‘This was sitting in my closet collecting dust.’” Being an avid thrift store shopper, Nguyen aims give impeccable pieces of clothing a new life.

Nini’s Boutique, 1154 Koko Head Ave., Mon–Sat 11:30am–6pm, 739-2500

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