As you walk into the Eclectic Artistry Boutique you’re welcomed by bright colors and hit with the unique style Etrenda Jones brings to fashion.
Racks of jewelry and clothing of different styles in the modern eclectic style fill the boutique along with the interior design captivating one’s attention.
Jones of Crete the owner of Eclectic Artistry Boutique, opened her new location at 3309 Vollmer Road in Flossmoor on April 12.
“I’ve always been into fashion, I love fashion, and I wore a lot of jewelry, but it was more commercial jewelry,” Jones said. “In the midst of that, I decided to dive into this hard holy and sell the commercial jewelry.”
Jones worked at Chase Bank for 28 years as a documentation analyst in the bank’s Treasury Service before diving into her future life in fashion.
During the beginning journey of making her product, Jones said her health declined. She later was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a blood cancer.
“I’ve had three brain surgeries, I lost my sight, couldn’t talk, couldn’t walk,” Jones said. “God restored me (and) in the midst of my healing I began to play with fabrics.”
Jones said between her chemotherapy treatments she would work with fabrics and became very passionate about it. She started working with leather and fully launched her business when she got a knack for working with denim.
“I figured if I could do it with denim, I can do it with other things, right?” Jones said. “Then you have things that inspire you like Pinterest, things like that. That’s kind of where it all started for me.”
During her healing journey, Jones said she decided to take her creations more seriously. She left her job at Chase and worked from home. She did vending events selling her commercial products.
Raymond Thomas, a friend of Jones, bought a building in Blue Island and built a space for her to have her first brick and mortar on his property in November 2019.
As a woman set to follow through with all challenges she gives herself, Jones was far from being done creatively.
Within six months of opening, Jones expanded that boutique.
“I carried anything that was a representation of accessory,” Jones said. “Clothing are accessories, right? It’s wearable art, so it tapped right into the design of jewelry, purses, hats and things of that nature.”
Jones said she created a ministry of fashion in her boutique. It became a place of congregation and sisterhood with a diverse range of women who would pray together, have celebrations and just spend time with each other there.
“It was more so again like me creating this platform for women to come and feel confident about themselves, to feel good about themselves… as well as us women pouring into each other from a positive aspect,” Jones said.
Jones’ progress with her boutique came to an abrupt halt when the store caught fire and burned down Sept. 7, 2023. She stood across the street watching the fire take everything.
“I knew God would bring me greater,” Jones said, “but in that moment, and in that time, I didn’t understand. I had to go through a point of healing which took time; not so much that I was attached to the product, just the whole idea of it.”
During the healing process, Jones said she took the time to prepare for her new journey which started in January 2024.
“So, I came out with my jewelry, my hand painted clothes and things of that nature. That was my first time out since September (2023),” Jones said. “It was an absolutely amazing turnout. It was held in Chicago Heights (in March 2024), and I did call it the rebirth.”
Jones welcomed around 200 guests and felt the love from her community and how much they wanted to continue to support her. Around the same time, she came out with her handmade purse line called Clutch.
“All of that landed me here today and in the midst of that I’ve started to sew and just the creativity has blossomed, and it’s been amazing,” Jones said.
Jones looks forward to connecting with the Flossmoor community.
“I love what I do. I’m connected to what I do,” Jones said. “I’m passionate about what I do because it’s a gift, right? Everyone can’t do it, but we all have something special.”
Eclectic Beauty Boutique hours of operation are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.