Covet, Southie's Newest Storefront, Is a Boutique With a Heart

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

Grid View

Expand

• Image courtesy of Covet

Just last week, Southie welcomed Covet, a consignment shop with an essentially boutique feel. Curated, in-season apparel mingles with select wearable vintage pieces in a clean white space, complemented by an edited designer bag selection and shoe wall to punctuate any secondhand outfit.

The woman behind the counter, kept company by a little Chihuahua named Olive, is Hanadi Hamzeh—a Boston area native and neighborhood resident who left hospital lab research to pursue her lifelong dream of owning a business. Calling her new endeavor a "boutique with a heart," Hamzeh is pursing a philosophy of eco-, animal-, and budget-friendly shopping.

From using recycled paper goods to all natural cleaning products and energy efficient lightbulbs, Covet preaches a mantra of reducing waste beyond simply buying pre-owned wares. On the animal-friendly front, Hamzeh refuses to stock furs or exotic leathers in the store. Meanwhile, pricing stays in the wallet-pleasing under $125 range, as Hamzeh (a self professed bargain hunter) reiterates that "I don't expect customers to pay more than I would."

Covet will rarely look the same when shoppers enter, as constant additions and sales change the landscape daily. To consign, the shop offers a 40% cut from the resale price or 50% for store credit, upping the return on designer accessories to 60% of the selling price. A full list of the accepted luxury labels is available on the site, but expect to see the usual suspects: Balenciaga, Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Prada, and Miu Miu to name a few. Other fun store touches are hand-written quotes on mirrors as well as sharply styled mannequins, both updated weekly. In the future, plan to see outfit picks on Facebook—not that you need another reason to covet what's at Covet, but your closet surely won't complain.
· Here Is Your Essential Guide to Consigning in Boston [Racked Boston]
· Covet [Official Site]