By/Por Leah Bergman
Karen Marley and Monique Aquino in their new boutique, Buttons and Bows.
Bob Marley touched the lives of many people by becoming a cultural icon with his message of liberation and peace. For his daughter, Karen Marley, he has inspired her pursuit of fashion which she affectionately refers to as: “Stylings of the Gong”. This pursuit has led Karen Marley to team up with Monique Aquino in opening up a new boutique in downtown Los Angeles called Buttons and Bows.
Buttons and Bows carries consignment clothes of designers such as: Chloe, Prada, YSL, Alexander Wang, Elizabeth & James, Style Stalker, Top Shop and more. “We also carry vintage that Monique finds and little deals. Our focus is what we like, our aesthetics – very classic, eclectic, timeless, and experimental,” said Marley.
The idea began with two friends randomly talking one day and realizing they both wanted to open up a store. “We tried it online a little bit at first, “said Marley. Aquino followed up with, “We had a really good time doing it so we decided to source more items to sell and take it to the next level.”
The next level successfully opened with a cocktail party and many excited guests in attendance. Marley jokingly comments, “I can’t sing, so I do this.” It is clear to see that the same amount of passion Bob Marley had for music his daughter has for fashion.
© 2012 Leah Bergman
