take five: keara, owner of oak boston

Oak Boston is a great little shop that just opened it’s real doors. I think it’s a tough and exciting time to be a small business owner, especially one with a brick and mortar shop.

Oak is full of handmade items that you need to own, like, yesterday. For example, these pebble earrings, $25.

Find out more about Keara and Oak Boston in this fantastic installment of Take Five.

Tell us a little bit about you. How old are you and where do you live?

My name is Keara, and I am 20 years old. I grew up in Nashua, NH, working in my mother’s children’s/maternity clothing store. I moved to Boston a few years ago, and I love living in the city!

What do you love about indie style? What is it that inspires you?

I think that handmade indie style is even more exciting. Even if the designer made 50 of the same piece, each is still going to end up being one of a kind. You know that the artist was a person sitting at a sewing machine making sure they were satisfied with the final product… not a nameless machine in a warehouse spitting out thousands of the same garment. This same ideal applies for jewelry, printing, etc.

What has been the most hectic part of setting up a brick and mortar shop?

Oh jeez, finances! It’s hard to stretch your resources, but it can almost make it better when you have to be creative with how you spend your money. The other hard aspect was actually finding the retail location. I looked and looked for months, and then the perfect spot fell into my lap.

Give us your favorite undiscovered designer/shop.

I can’t pick a favorite at Oak! But, I do love this new designer “Joodito” that I have yet to contact. Very fun, modern clothing. Designed right here in Boston. I will have to get in touch with her soon!

What’s sitting on your desk right now?

I’m writing to you via laptop right now. But, next to me I have a Dunkin Donuts coffee, my ipod and Aveeno face lotion.. and lots of messy papers.

(Photo: courtesy of Keara)