GREENFIELD — Redefined Hope Boutique opened their doors for business in downtown Greenfield with profits going toward The Hope Center, a non-profit anti-trafficking organization dedicated to the restoration of women who are on the road to recovery.
Rachel Kleine, director of business development, said that the Redefined Hope Boutique originally started in 2017 as a thrift boutique on campus where individuals were able to donate items of clothing for the residents at The Hope Center, which is located off Brookville Road.
Kleine said that once donations started coming in, they had more clothes than they knew what to do with. To involve the community and help more, Kleine said they decided to resell the clothing, growing the non-profit business into new clothing and thrifted ones with 100% of the sales going back to The Hope Center.
Once the previous tenant, Francis and Fern Boutique, moved locations and the space became available, Kleine said it made good business sense to move their Irvington location to the corner of Main Street and Ind. 9.
“We’ve had a lot of great support already, people super excited that we’re coming into town,” Kleine said. “We’re excited to be here.”
Kleine said the boutique located in Irvington will be open throughout the rest of the month as they complete their transition to Main Street. The new location has their new and thrifted items for purchase, but no coffee shop just yet.
They also have a boutique and coffee shop located in Morristown, one county over.
Kleine said that they employ their Hope Center residents at the boutiques, which gives them the opportunity to get out into the community. Kleine said they didn’t offer employment when they first started the business, but as the women were progressing in their programs, they realized they needed to offer a way for them to make income and grow.
“We offer a safe and sober environment for our ladies to start job training, develop their skills, develop their résumé,” Kleine said.
Kleine said that once the women reach a certain point then they can work off campus while still living at the center, which Kleine says is a great way to get out and about but still in a safe and connected environment.
The Hope Center also offers transportation for those who work off campus and for residents to be able to shop at the boutiques with their Hope Bucks.
Kleine said that with starting the boutiques, they wanted to offer that feeling that comes with shopping at a boutique but at a price range where people could find a thrifted pair of pants with a new top, combining their experience in a boutique at a lower price point.
The Redefined Hope Boutique website writes that The Hope Center’s mission is to “Impart Hope & Healing to Every Heart,” emphasis on the idea of being able to provide care for women survivors of human trafficking and other affecting problem that may arise.
“This is a great place to be able to get involved with the fight against human trafficking,” Kleine said. A simple thing we always say is ‘shopping is serving.’ So when you do shop here you truly are giving back to the wages of a resident or also just to her coming and having safe nights for free.”
