The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/18/07 Section: Variety

Media Credit: DANIELA LEE Handmade pampering goods are among the vintage finds sold downtown at Agora.

As winter melts away into spring and biting winds give way to warm breezes, most get the urge to follow the weather's lead and make a change in their wardrobe. However, dwindling bank accounts due to nights on the town can pose a major problem.

Downtown vintage depot Agora has all the answers. Harboring refurbished vintage clothes, fabulous jewelry, handmade pampering goodies and custom designed cards, this store has everything you need to tweak your ensembles and attitude in the coming season.

Vintage finds are not always attractive at first, but designers and seamstresses, like those that create the pieces sold at Agora, can take a frumpy dress and make it stylish and fun.

Creator of Pamplemousse Design, a clothing and accessories line carried in Agora, Karen Freed and Agora owner Airee Hong often collaborate to come up with an idea.

"We look for cute fabrics that may be part of an outfit with a not-so-cute cut," said Hong. Freed then takes the fabric and turns it into something practical and mindful of today's fashions.

Two others that revamp old clothes for the store are Jocelyn Negron and fabric design major Katelyn Laboon.

Not limiting its handmade items to clothes, the eccentric store carries a variety of other goods.

Kate Daley Bailey is among the vendors and offers well-priced, handcrafted jewelry to customers.

She makes mostly beaded items, the beads of which she hunts for online and around Athens, but she has begun making "quirky little charms," as well.

"I adore little oddities, something unique and special, and I really enjoy making jewelry. It's mentally therapeutic," Bailey said.

This "bead goddess," a title she received while working at Native America Gallery, creates accessories when she is not working one of her other two jobs. Bailey is a religion professor at the University and a Young Adult coordinator at the Oconee County Library.

In the same corner of Agora as Bailey's creations are the products of two other local artists. The Moxie Art Group's collection includes clothes, candles, lip gloss and massage balls.

Kate Zimmerman, a friend of Hong's, displays a few of her intricate, handmade greeting cards, as well.

Zimmerman started her business, JetKat Design, three years ago.

Creating, for the most part, custom wedding invitations, this University grad decided to offer greeting cards for Agora customers when Hong asked her to.

"They've only been there a few months, but the response has been great," Zimmerman said.

From refurbished vintage clothes to handcrafted cards, this store offers almost every personality type something useful and interesting.

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