1. Out of the Blue
2. Rhymes with Orange
3. Urban Bakery

Located in the heart of the Osborne Village is Out of the Blue, a local mainstay specializing in women’s vintage, indie and retro clothing, accessories, jewelry and footwear.

Owner Wendy Waters opened the store 22 years ago (the original location was on River Avenue) and its eclectic line of products and apparel has always complimented the surrounding neighborhood.

“I think the roots of [Osborne Village] are defined in terms of a hippie counterculture,” she says. “The neighborhood’s various ethnicities and people intersect to produce a very creative, tolerant and diverse array of customers. It’s one of the great things about living and working in the Village.”

Notable for its trendy, youthful women’s apparel, Out of the Blue has remained both a successful enterprise and destination store because it’s kept up with changing styles and tastes.

“‘Vintage’ has changed a lot since I opened up,” Waters says. “But for the most part our product is clothing that people have a bit of fun with and enjoy wearing.”

Beyond clothes, Out of the Blue carries “quite a bit of Canadian-made jewelry”, some by Winnipeg designers, and a range of vintage-inspired boots and shoes. As for male customers, plenty of giftware is available for that special someone on your Christmas shopping list.

Asked what’s kept Out of the Blue in business all these years, Waters contends its the positive attitude of her staff and their strong commitment to customers and fashion.

“The success, particularly when you’re up against all the challenges in the economy and the different business models that are in place now, you really do rely on your team,” she says. “My staff and the neighborhood at large have been really supportive, and those things are meaningful to all independent businesses.”

Part of the series: The Uniter 30

Published in Volume 68, Number 14 of The Uniter (December 4, 2013)