Howdy! It’s been a minute since I’ve written a blog, but what a joy to look back over the years of journaled content. Ave Lumi has really come a long way since inception & quite the distance since opening our boutique in Tenafly. Call it cliche, but I enjoy the process of an annual review as we start a new year. I love to put the successes & struggles into perspective, digest them, and set solid intentions for the year ahead.

Since opening at No. 9 Jay St. we have grown & we have worked for every inch of that growth. My goal was a home for my business, growth of Ave Lumi’s community, as well as enhancement of my community at large. Looking back, I can confirm that not only have we strengthened our relationships with customers from the early days, but we’ve gone far beyond… and not for professional gain, but due to a genuine enthusiasm for authentic connection.

Everything goes back to my original intention for founding Ave Lumi, and that was to enhance the sustainability of the fashion industry. And every year, I take a minute to see where we stand, what was achieved, and to recommit to my mission. I do, after all, continue to wake up every single day with the same enthusiasm for this work, so despite the hardships of boot strapping a sustainable fashion business, I know I am feeding my soul.

So, let’s have a look at some of the figures, shall we:

My word for 2023 was “precision” (do you choose an intention word for the year?) Well, I learned that precision is not quite for me, but I did REFINE & edit my process to get Ave Lumi on a healthy trajectory, sustainable in all ways. So, let’s look at what yielded.

• ETHICAL LABOR PRACTICES: These are certified practices, not just based on interpersonal relationships and companies giving me their word that their supply chains practice ethical labor. Some of my brand suppliers are very small, so I get to know them on a more personal level to verify. However, I don’t include those companies in this count. Ethical labor practices are certifications such as B-Corp certified, Fair Trade Certified, WARP certified. This year we grew to 95 suppliers with verified ethical labor practices from 74 brands in 2022.

• WOMAN OWNED BRANDS: Here’s the deal, I have nothing against male owned business, but supporting women owned is important to me. According to the US Chamber of Commerce: despite leading nearly half of U.S. businesses, women entrepreneurs typically receive less funding. This is only the start of the challenges women face building businesses. As a woman & a mother business owner, I feel strongly in investing in other female entrepreneurs. I collaborate extensively with female founders, and these are the most soul driven, thorough, and compassionate business concepts around. This year we grew to 75 women owned brands from 63 in 2022.

• MADE IN USA: Made in USA is important to sustainability because it keeps innovation developing locally, it supports our local/domestic economy, it reduces emissions as products do not have to travel as far, and labor practices and worker rights are governed by local laws. Maintaining clothing construction knowledge is crucial for sustainability in fashion, but beyond, local manufacturing of soft goods allows culture to thrive. This year we grew to 43 suppliers with made in the USA products from 30 in 2022.

• VERIFIED SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS: This is the most critical area for environmental sustainability, but also the most difficult and most expensive. To gain GOTS Certification in production is an extensive and thorough vetting that most small businesses cannot attain on cost and volume alone. This increases the price tag of any utilized GOTS certified organic materials. Similarly, sustainable textile companies hold tight to proprietary technology, ultimately yielding high price tags. Still, we make concerted effort every season to reinvest in environmentally sustainable products that have stamped verification. This year we grew to 41 brands who utilize verified sustainable materials over 34 last year.

I always consider sustainability as I assort the store, but I also remain committed to the following cornerstones of the Ave Lumi concept:

• Design that is beautiful & functional for women, children & babies. Each design must stand up as fully desirable to our customers.

• Sustainability that is not boring. Sustainable is not muted crunchiness at Ave Lumi, no way!

• Inspiration for the modern family: your purchases have REAL & IMPACTFUL power. Have I made enough of the point that every dollar you spend has a true vote for your values? Perhaps I’ll want to emphasize this more in 2024. What world do you want your children to inherit?

• An environment to uplift the community. I aim for this every day. Do you feel uplifted when you leave Ave Lumi?

• A showcase for design, products, and brands that are committed to improving supply chains and facilitating dreams. Following your dreams is not the easy path, but perhaps the most colorful. I want to paint the world with beautiful, colorful, uplifting energy.

In addition to supply chain we grew in terms of community. Here’s a snapshot:

• Ave Lumi hosted a monthly women entrepreneurs meet up BAE (Bergen Area Entrepreneurs). If you are interested in joining, we’d love to have you. You can learn more in our facebook group HERE

• Ave Lumi hosted 7 in house events featuring special experiences & showcasing other local women entrepreneurs also committed to sustainability.

• Ave Lumi participated in 10 local community events, donating time, revenue, and resources to the following charitable organizations:

  • Kaplen JCC on the Palisades

  • Tenafly Chamber of Commerce

  • Tenafly Downtown Committee

  • Tenafly Nature Center

  • Tenafly High School Project Graduation

  • Bergen Family Center

  • Tenafly Public School Home/School Associations

  • Women’s Rights Information Center

  • Robert Wood Johnson Hospital Cancer Research

  • Monmouth County Conservancy

WOW, LOOK AT WHAT WE’VE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER?! I could have done none of this without you! Thank you for supporting Ave Lumi in all the ways. Every ounce of showing up, sharing, positive referral, (of course) spending; ALL OF IT is important. Something I’ve learned about myself this year is that I like being in Tenafly. Well, duh you say, you have to like where you are to want to stay there… but I REALLY like having a business that supports my own local community, I like having a shop 3 minutes from home. I don’t want to go anywhere, so in 2024, I’m giving it my all to not only make Ave Lumi thrive, but to help the entire Tenafly commerce community be its best self! I hope you will continue to join me on this journey!

SAW SOMETHING CUTE IN THE IMAGES ABOVE? HERE ARE THE PRODUCTS FEATURED: