Press Release: Downtown St. Albans to Embrace New Upcycled Marketplace Concept
ST. ALBANS CITY — As Outerknown prepares to close its doors next month, owner Lise-Ann Cooledge is already envisioning the future of Project Vermont. This spring, she aims to launch a new retail space that showcases re-purposed, self-made, and upcycled goods. Recognizing a growing trend in the upcycling movement, Cooledge is actively seeking local business partners to collaborate on this innovative venture.
"Many of us in Vermont embody a mindset of barter and trade," Cooledge remarked, emphasizing the community spirit that drives sustainable practices. Outerknown has primarily focused on reworking materials sourced from a California clothing company, but with that partnership ending, Cooledge believes there’s still a strong interest in upcycled products. "Remaking, recycling, and repurposing items that others discard feels like a seamless transition to the next chapter," she added.
The retail space will continue to focus on secondhand and vintage offerings. Cooledge noted a resurgence in popularity for thrift stores and vintage markets across Vermont, suggesting that St. Albans is ripe for a similar initiative. "Re-markets are trendy; consumers enjoy the adventure of exploring spaces with multiple vendors," she stated, highlighting the opportunity for smaller vendors to utilize less space while offering diverse products.
While textiles will remain a core focus, Cooledge is excited about broadening the scope to include various local artisans, antique collectors, and crafters. Inspired by successful models in Essex and South Burlington, where demand for vendor space is high, Cooledge is confident that Franklin County will embrace this concept as well.
Cooledge invites those interested in contributing to the development of the new marketplace to reach out via email at liseannevt@gmail.com.
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Photo credit www.samessenger.com
