Since taking over Deluxe in 2006, a central aspiration of Mitra and Aaron’s has been to develop a beneficial reciprocal relationship with the Eugene community.
Deluxe has opened its doors to youth and teens in Eugene by maintaining internship and apprenticeship programs. In the internship program, students are given a first hand experience of what is involved in understanding and operating a resale clothing boutique. They learn the processes of selection, preparation and pricing of clothing as well as aspects of merchandising, customer service and sales. Those who are interested in additional elements, such as sewing and redesign, may be taken on as apprentices. Deluxe has worked with individuals interested in these topics as well as local schools. Contact Deluxe for more details.
Sewing and redesign classes are currently available at Deluxe, taught by Debrah DeMirza, our in house seamstress. In the future, we hope to expand on this concept by offering facilities to other local apparel-focused craftspeople to directly teach Eugene community members their skills and mediums of art. We hope to launch this program, called Eugene Coalition for Wearable Art (ECWA), in the summer of 2009. Contact Deluxe for details.
It has always been a goal of ours to support and promote local and independent clothing designers.
Deluxe provides a unique retail setting where local designers may sell their products on consignment (see details). It has become incorporated into the identity of Deluxe to offer a place where Eugenians can find cutting edge Indie and DIY Merchandise made by local designers. To further this cause, Deluxe has been putting on local designer fashion shows annually since 2007 (see Events). These shows provide an opportunity for Eugene’s craftspeople of apparel and jewelry to directly present their artistic vision the community. Over the past three years, these shows have not only provided a fantastic networking vehicle for local designers, but also an exciting evening of entertainment for Eugene community members.
