The only African-American-owned and -operated women’s clothing boutique on Capitol Hill ushers in a new era of business opportunity and upward mobility for the District’s most precious real estate.

Owner Dorian Bean celebrated her second year in business with an in-store soiree on Saturday, Aug. 1, in Southeast showing her customer appreciation by offering 15 percent off all merchandise.

“It’s amazing that sometimes when I put my key in the door, I can’t even believe it,” Bean said. “It is definitely surreal for me to do what I love and be in this space on the Hill.”

Bean worked for years as an office manager at a progressive policy think tank before pursuing her passion as a clothing designer.

“In 2007, I left my job and I just started planning. I knew I wanted to debut a clothing line,” Bean said.

Bean shared that by chance she lucked up on the store front that houses her boutique.

“I would come into the ladies shop that was here before me. I knew she was sick and had planned on leaving, so I went after it before it even went on the market,” Bean said. “It is very hard to obtain space around here. They don’t advertise it. In the past 30 years there have only been two other owners in this place.”

Afiba Wallace, a resident of Northeast, discovered Boutique on the Hill when she realized the old store she used to frequent now belonged to someone else.

“I saw it was someone new in this space, and it was Dorian she had great energy, very personable and inviting,” Wallace said. “She’s serious about her business; she brings in unique items and makes women look their best.”

Wallace especially supports Bean as being in a class all by herself.

“It’s not common for a black woman to have a brick-and-mortar on Capitol Hill, so two-year anniversary, this is incredible.”

Boutique on the Hill offers clothing and accessories as well as custom dresses and alterations. During Saturday’s celebration, the boutique featured designer Sister Bucks and interior designer DeChelle Harris.

Harris left a career in microbiology 12 years ago to pursue her passion in interior design.

“I love taking a space that is completely terrible and turning it into something that a client loves,” Harris said.

Harris featured handmade pillows at the Boutique that she says will one day be a part of her home furnishing line.

“That is the ultimate goal to have my own home and furniture line. I have to create what I want to see,” Harris said.

Bucks a designer from South Africa knew exactly why customers gravitated towards her designs.

“It’s the colors, patterns, quality of fabrics and the creativity,” Sister Bucks said. “It is not about looking different. Its changing people from what they are in and putting them in what they should be.”

Bucks started her designing career forty years ago, but insists her designs are deeper then fashion.

“When you wear European clothes like 80 percent of black people around the globe you are going to want to be them. It takes away from you being African,” Sister Bucks said. “With African clothes you act different, so bringing the people back to who they are.”

Although overhead for a boutique on Capitol Hill can be a challenge, Bean declares May and June of this year have been her most successful months since opening.

“We are continuing to grow. We have an ‘Art Meets Fashion’ summer series where we host artists. This is only the beginning,” Bean said.

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http://www.dallasweekly.com/business/article_0c1cb05e-569a-11e5-9c8a-2bcc645122d9.html