MAKERS SERIES
THIS IS MORE THAN A STORE. IT’S A SOCIAL GATHERING PLACE, AN EDUCATION CENTER, AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY MARKETPLACE TO SCORE INCREDIBLE DEALS ON DESIGNER GOODS AND THE HEART OF ONE OF BOULDER’S FAVORITE ANNUAL CREATIVE EVENTS
By Aimee Heckel
ANYTHING BUT COMMON
Common Threads celebrates 15 years as unique Boulder consignment/sewing center PHOTOS BY JENNIFER STEEL
Common Threads is truly not common. A glimpse at Common Threads’ Instagram makes that immediately apparent. Diamond jewelry, Tom Ford sunnies, Gucci accessories and Alexander McQueen heels appear at surprisingly discounted prices. The reason: Everything is gently used — it’s a consignment store. But it’s also a careful curation of some of Boulder’s finest fares. Common Threads, 2707 Spruce St. in downtown Boulder, is getting ready to celebrate its 15th year as a Boulder staple. Its younger Denver branch just celebrated its big 1-0. And Libby Alexander, founder, says business is still going strong, despite the bumps in the road related to COVID-19. In fact, she says, perhaps the store is playing a more important role than ever before. “After this last year, people need to feel good about themselves. A lot of us gained weight or feel depressed or are struggling in other ways,” she says. “When someone is smiling when they walk out of the store, it really does matter.”
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WINTER-SPRING 2021-2022
Last year’s big-sellers (sweatpants and comfortable clothes) have been replaced by sexy shoes and date-night dresses. Plus, Alexander says, many people are finding it cathartic to sell the clothes they lived in in 2020. Letting go of those clothes can be a healing way to transition out of lockdown into trying to reclaim life again. Not to mention the discounted prices, which help many people buy quality items they otherwise might not be able to afford. “People are shopping again,” Alexander says. “It’s been gangbusters since the vaccinations. It feels good to be a part of the community again.” The cornerstone of Common Threads, according to Alexander, is having a positive impact on the community. And this unique store strives to do this in a variety of different ways. She founded Common Threads in 2007 with the intention of blending the consignment store concept with sewing. Initially, the vision was to teach people how to select secondhand items in the store and then repurpose them.
