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WOVEN
COLUMBIA’S NEWEST CLOTHING BOUTIQUE
By Adam York
The secret is out that downtown Columbia is bustling with a variety of shops and eateries that appeal to a wide range of tastes and interests. From antiques and athletic gear to tapas and taps, you can find treasures for everyone! You’ll even find a diverse mix of apparel options in Muletown, and among those options is a new women’s boutique on the downtown square Woven.
Woven’s Origin Story
Birthed within the four walls of Smith & York Co., Woven’s origin can be traced back to a drive to the Atlanta market, as Woven’s owners and creators Abby Youngblut and Kathryn York struck up a conversation about the success they were witnessing with women’s fashion accessories like handbags and jewelry at Smith & York Co. “Our customers would compliment our curation of accessories and began asking us to add clothing with the same aesthetic and vibe of the home goods and gift items at Smith & York Co.,” said Youngblut, who left the corporate retail world to learn the small business side of retail alongside York. “Kathryn became the perfect mentor, and we moved from boss and employee to friends who are like family and now business partners,” Youngblut added.
While York had found a comfort zone with home decor and gift curation, apparel was an interest she hadn’t really entertained as a complement to Smith & York Co.’s offerings until Youngblut came on board and naturally introduced the idea. “It’s true that our customers kept asking us to offer clothing. When we began to really investigate the sales analytics of our accessories, we realized that there was definitely a market for at least dabbling with women's clothing and seeing where it goes,” affirmed York. Soon those ideas turned into concrete plans, as Youngblut and York developed a business plan and a vision to introduce women’s apparel into the shop environment at Smith & York Co., with the ultimate goal of opening a standalone boutique with its own downtown Columbia storefront.
Over a series of months, they further developed the business plan, conceptualized brand standards, and began to seek out a physical location all while experimenting with several clothing lines inside Smith & York Co.’s retail space. The timing was everything when Smith & York Co.’s next-door shop neighbor, ēlia, a day spa, expanded to a new space on the downtown square leaving a vacant storefront available right next door. This space would eventually become the home for Woven, which officially opened its doors in April of 2023.
Woven’s Mission
While you will find an incredible selection of women’s apparel within the greater downtown area of Columbia, Woven is currently the only exclusive women's clothing boutique on the downtown square. Woven’s overall mission is to provide women in every walk of life with an everyday wardrobe in an array of neutral and muted color tones. Youngblut said, “Our goal is to provide our patrons with styles in which they can build outfits for every season.” Woven also exists to provide modest, fashion-forward options for shoppers who visit the downtown Columbia Square. York added, “We also wanted to carry items that we wanted to wear and felt comfortable in items that are not only essential basics but that can be paired with multiple outfits.”
Woven’s Offerings
Among the offerings at Woven, you will find elevated apparel basics sized from extra small to 3 XL all in an earthy color palette and at affordable prices. Woven’s collections include buildable pieces for every season, from casual to dressy to athleisure and sleepwear. In addition to clothing, Woven also carries a variety of jewelry, hats, handbags, skincare products, cards, devotionals, and so much more.
All of Woven’s offerings are housed within an inviting and soothing atmosphere that mimics the apparel’s earthy, neutraltoned color palette. You’ll even find complementary elements within the shop to its next-door neighbor, Smith & York Co. Both shops offer you the convenience of shopping for home and lifestyle within just a few short steps.
Try Woven on for Size
You can personally try Woven on for size at 28 Public Square in downtown Columbia or peruse the apparel and accessories online at wearwoven.co. York concluded, “We hope Woven is an added asset to the thriving downtown square. We are thrilled to be part of the growth and excitement that is happening all around us.” Youngblut added, “We are fortunate to have had Smith & York Co. as the inaugural home and starting point to build our brand while we were under construction in our new space. We hope you’ll visit both shops as often as you can!”
About Kathryn York
Kathryn York is a friendly face you'll recognize within the community. She’s the owner of Smith & York Co. and Lime & Loaf. With a passion for everything home and entertaining, she now looks forward to being a part of the growing vibrant clothing retail community in downtown Columbia.
About Abby Youngblut
Abby Youngblut came to Smith & York Co. in the spring of 2021. While managing the business alongside York, she realized she wanted to plant roots in Columbia and be a part of the growing retail community. Abby has over 10 years of experience in corporate retail management and merchandising. She is gifted with an eye for fashion and quality, and she curates the collections offered at Woven.
Follow Woven on social media at @wearwoventn to learn about their new arrivals and other offerings!
ADAM YORK, along with his wife, Kathryn, is the owner of Smith & York Company, a modern home boutique located on the square in downtown Columbia, Tennessee and Lime & Loaf, a kitchen shop in downtown Columbia. Open seven days a week, Smith & York Co. offers a diverse selection of home goods, including tabletop accessories, barware, lighting, textiles, planters, and gift items, while Lime & Loaf offers a wide selection of kitchen essentials for cooking and baking. Learn more at smithandyork.co and limeandloaf.com
