Shelley Harvey says Belle Bird Boutique is now ‘‘complete’’.
The owner of the soon-to-be-closed independent Dunedin designer clothing store said it was time for her to move on and see what else was out there.
She started the store when she was 26, and has been in the same George St shopfront since 2003.
‘‘Most of my adult life has been spent in here and I just want to go do something else,’’ Mrs Harvey, now 50, said.
‘‘I can’t be here forever.’’
Belle Bird Boutique began its life as a space for both her own and her then-business partner’s personal brands, and for a couple of friends among the likes of Charmaine Reveley to display their clothes, she said.
It evolved more into wholesale from there, but had in the past year returned to some of its roots by displaying more of its in-house brands such as South of Eden and Danger Birds.
‘‘We’ve created a range of good, long-lasting, wearable pieces that you can mix and match with your wardrobe.’’
The reaction from regulars about the closure had been positive.
Former staff had even contacted her to share their fond memories.
‘‘Loads of our regulars have shopped here from the beginning — that’s one of my favourite things about here.
‘‘I’ve seen mums with their daughters at high school, then the daughters are at university, and then they’ve graduated and then they’re in with their babies.
‘‘We’ve got lots of people with quite good memories associated with the store.’’
Mrs Harvey said she had thought about the prospect of closure over the past couple of years.
Staying would have been easy — deciding to leave was harder.
‘‘I feel like it’s pretty complete here — there’s nothing else I want to do.
‘‘I’m leaving feeling pretty happy with what we’ve done over the years.’’
And what was next?
‘‘No idea.
‘‘Have some time out to start with after 23 years and just recollect myself.’’
The shop’s final day is May 1.
