My Favorite Shops

SHOPPING My Favorite Shops

A guided shopping trip in Gwinnett with fashion designer Jasmine Elder

BY ELIZABETH FLORIO

A

quick errand in Gwinnett County changed Jasmine Elder’s life. The designer behind women’s clothing brand JIBRI hails from Decatur, Georgia, and has lived in New York, London, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Texas. Ten years ago, she was looking for a place to settle down in her hometown when she made a run to a fabric store on Pleasant Hill Road. “I got an apartment two or three days later and haven’t left Gwinnett since,” she says.

When JIBRI—a plus-sized fashion line that has been worn by entertainers like Jill Scott, Amber Riley, and Gabourey Sidibe—outgrew the basement of her Lawrenceville townhouse, she rented a 4,000-square-foot commercial space in Norcross and has now firmly planted her flag, personally and professionally, in Gwinnett. Over the years, she’s compiled a list of favorite local shops of all stripes.

Gail K Fabrics

Not surprisingly, the designer’s top pick is a fabric shop. Gail K operates another location in intown Atlanta, but Elder prefers the Norcross outpost because it’s calmer. “The fabrics are amazing quality,” she says. “They are your number-one resource within metro Atlanta, period, for high-quality silks, any type of natural textiles.”

Taste of Britain

Elder stumbled upon this Union Jack–emblazoned storefront when having lunch in downtown Norcross. Here, she can stock up on the foods she learned to love while living in London, including her favorite treat, Lemon Zest Shortbread Rounds made by Cartwright & Butler. “I send it to all my friends,” she says.

Huff’s Flowers

Though this florist in downtown Lawrenceville sells arrangements, Elder prefers to grab her stems a la carte, including eucalyptus bundles to place in her shower (a hack that clears the airways and adds a spa-like scent). “It has a little bit of a New York feel to me, where you just pick up your bushels and go,” she says of the shop.

Liberty Books

Elder and her three-year-old daughter like to drop by children’s story time at this downtown Lawrenceville bookshop, purveyor of gently used books for kids and grown-ups alike. “There’s a quaintness to it,” she says of the store. “I do still want my daughter to know about paper books.”

Personify

“The shop is adorable, and their offerings are really unique,” she says of the Duluth women’s boutique run by mother-daughter team Tammy Lopez and Maddie Morden. “It’s perfect for gifts as well as things you would get for yourself—especially the shoes!” She recently treated herself to a pair of tribal-print Turkish mules, gushing, “I love, love, love them.”

Swagg Boutique

Real Housewives of Atlanta alumnus NeNe Leakes opened this Duluth boutique in 2017, and Elder loves its

Nancy's Candy & Spice

trendy apparel—“just cute little throw-on pieces that you can add to your wardrobe to give it a little pop.” The shop also sells accessories like bejeweled baseball caps and giftables like coffee mugs.

Nancy’s Candy & Spice

“Of course my daughter loves the candy aspect—gummy bears, candy apples—but I like the spices,” she says of this Lawrenceville retailer. Here, shoppers can pick up raw spices like turmeric and vanilla bean as well as premade seasoning blends (Elder loves the lemon-herb), local honey, and loose teas.

DressUp With locations in Suwanee, Snellville, and Peachtree Corners, this women’s retailer is a go-to for festive dresses, stylish basics, and jewelry to carry you through the season.

Ensemble Located in Suwanee Town Center and the Forum in Peachtree Corners, Ensemble offers trendy, affordable looks for teens and adults, with standout accessories. Crafted This Mall of Georgia shop carries goods handcrafted by local makers— jewelry, art, decor, apparel, and gifts— often infused with Atlanta spirit.

Glitter G This women’s boutique in historic downtown Norcross is chock-full of colorful clothing, scarves, sunglasses, and baubles of every kind.

Further Down the Rabbit Hole Tucked in historic downtown Buford, this mother-daughter-run shop specializes in boho-chic women's wear and handbags.