Sister2Sister Boutique

There are few things in modern civilization that evolve faster than fashion. What was trendy when you were a kid is now the stuff of costume parties. It can be hard to keep up with the latest looks. Aside from keeping up with trends, for some people it can be a challenge just to feel confident in the clothes they wear. Being trendy is not the most important thing to everyone, though. For many people, the clothes they wear are nothing more than part of the routine that propels them through the day. For Rhonda Harvey and Angie Stone, owners of Sister2Sister Boutique, fashion is a key component in raising the spirits of Roanoke women.

Although Rhonda and Angie are from D.C. and New Jersey, respectively, they both have settled in Roanoke for more than two decades and have found multiple ways to serve the women of Virginia. “My passion is for people. Our goal is to get you to walk out feeling better than you did when you walked in,” Angie said.

At Sister2Sister, everything from choosing products to showcase, to customer service is underpinned by what Rhonda considers to be the business’ three E’s – Empower, Encourage and Equip. Rhonda and Angie share a passion for fashion and the people they serve. “We’re not just a boutique. This is a ministry for us. We love to be able to encourage and pray with women,” Rhonda said. Prayer was actually the driving force behind the boutique’s origins. Rhonda led a women’s prayer group at her church called “Sister to Sister”. After attending the prayer meeting, Angie discovered the interests she shared with Rhonda. Angie said she previously invested in her sister’s hair salon, known as Sister2Sister Hair Spa. The spa closed, leaving Angie with rent payments for an unused space. Rhonda’s previous experience in jewelry gave her the desire to do something more with her passions. “She needed a building, and I needed something to fill the building,” Angie said. From coincidences, prayer and shared passions, Sister2Sister Boutique opened December 2019.

“It’s been over a year now. We’ve grown from prayer partners to friends and from friends to sisters. It’s been a great journey,” Angie said.

The boutique sports a wide array of fashionable styles and products including hats, jewelry and all sorts of clothing fit for a boutique. On the racks at Sister2Sister Boutique you can find diverse collections of fashion choices. On one end, you might find a classy dress to sport at an event, and on the other you might find some comfortable streetwear to make city sidewalks feel like a personal runway. “We are a trendy to a classy type of boutique. ‘Head to toe’ is our motto,” Rhonda said. Rhonda and Angie agree that fashion can serve a special purpose aside from just something to wear. The clothes you wear can determine how you feel and can help bring out your best self says the Sister2Sister team.

What is so evident about Sister2Sister Boutique is that Angie and Rhonda are with one another in their passions and desires to help support women in their community. As they spoke about their store and their mission, the passion in their voices only reinforced the dedication to the Sister2 Sister goal of unity and empowerment.

Due to the restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic, the store was forced to close. “Even though we have been in business for a year, we have not been in operation for a full year,” Angie said. 

One of the biggest challenges for any business is spreading awareness of your services to your community. According to Rhonda and Angie, the pandemic not only halted business, but also many of the extra services they wanted to provide women of the community. Some of these plans and services include outreach programs. Sister2Sister Boutique hopes to provide aid to women’s shelters in the form of clothing. Rhonda believes strongly in the power of comfortable clothes that can make any person say, “In spite of what’s been happening, I look good!”

Rhonda and Angie also would like to assist women in gaining confidence by being able to dress for success for events such as job interviews. “I have a heart for people, and seeing them grow and accomplish things,” Angie said. Aside from the challenges of the pandemic, Angie says that as new business owners the Sister2Sister team is   still learning and trying to grow clientele. “It’s been a struggle, but we’re still standing and proceeding forward,” Rhonda said. Despite the obstacles as new business owners in a worldwide health crisis, the Sister2Sister team is still taking positive strides forward. Already the boutique is planning to move to a bigger space that also will provide access to a greater diversity of women to empower.

Sister2Sister Boutique will have its grand opening in Valley View Mall on May 3. Aside from a better location, the move also will be beneficial for Angie, who claims that “If shopping can be a hobby, then that’s me, all day!”

“There will be more doors that are opening for Sister2 Sister. You will be hearing more about Sister2Sister and the things we will be able to do for the community going forward,” Angie said.

Both Angie and Rhonda are excited as they look to the future of Sister2Sister Boutique and the state of their community. They seem to be taking the setbacks of the pandemic in stride in order to focus on new opportunities that may come their way.

For more information on Sister2Sister Boutique, or for a look at all their latest collections, visit their website sister2sisterapparel.com, or find them on Facebook.