Christy Lynn clothing will be locally managed by former Tamarind co-owners.
A high-end Houston-based clothing brand has opened its first boutique in California in Healdsburg.
Christy Lynn is a women’s fashion brand that specializes in hand painted floral patterns on dresses, skirts, tops and pants. The pieces usually cost between $300 and $800.
In the new location at 132 Matheson St., they also feature some experimental denim pieces. Owner Christy Lynn Lee was in Healdsburg Thursday during a store preview before its grand opening.
After living in New York where she worked for fashion designers, Lee moved to Houston with her husband about 7 years ago. But the couple’s wedding in St. Helena was where Lee fell in love with wine country.
She designed many of the pieces for events leading up to her wedding. She later sold the clothing designs to boutiques – launching her brand Christy Lynn in the process.
Lee has two boutiques in Houston, Texas, but wanted to open a boutique in Healdsburg because she felt a bond with the area.
“I wanted to be somewhere where I was connected to the community so when I came to Healdsburg, I’ve been here a few times already, I just felt very connected with the people here and they love our dresses,” Lee said.
She sells her clothing online internationally and to about 100 retailers. One of those retailers was Tamarind boutique before it closed in June after co-owners Andrea Kenner, Genevieve Jago and Cynthia Tinniswood went their separate ways.
Kenner is starting her own store in the old Tamarind location. Jago and Tinniswood now work as local managers of Christy Lynn following an invite by Lee, whom they have known for about 5 years.
“It’s exciting that (Lee) has a little hub here because she does want to grow her brand and be more creative,” Jago said.
Tinniswood said she thinks Christy Lynn will be a great addition to Healdsburg and is excited to have another elevated designer join the area.
“A lot of people already know about her and her brand so its very complimentary to Healdsburg,” Tinniswood said.
During the store preview, many former Tamarind customers came to say hello to Jago and Tinniswood, and to meet Lee. There was even an impromptu modeling session by customers in front of a full length mirror.
Healdsburg resident and former Tamarind customer, Gretchen Gause Niaki, called Jago and Tinniswood her “go-to girls” for fashion advice.
“They’re the same warm people we’ve been shopping from for years. We know them and it feels good to see them again in town,” Gause Niaki said.
She said having Christy Lynn’s designs in town was special and although the company is based in Texas, she noted it’s still a small business.
“I think the community is welcoming to small artists, small designers and this isn’t Nordstrom,” Gause Naiki said. “This isn’t a big chain. We’re still talking about small artists.”
Concerns over national chains coming to downtown Healdsburg are not new. Healdsburg did not have any laws explicitly banning formula businesses – stores with 10 or more identical locations – from the historic plaza.
Rather, the city’s general plan — which serves as a blueprint for future growth — outlined that formula businesses shouldn’t be allowed along the plaza, but were OK elsewhere in the city.
That changed in March when the city council banned formula businesses from the historic downtown plaza, but did not ban chain businesses from the southern and northern portions of the downtown commercial district.
The update was sparked after Faherty Clothing, a national retailer with 65 locations, took over the Ooh La Luxe space, just outside the plaza.
Some locals want all formula stores to be banned from Healdsburg while other believe the City Council took the ban too far.
With only two other locations, Christy Lynn’s new boutique is not affected by the law. Lee said her goal for her brand in Healdsburg is to learn about different textiles and techniques from other local artists, as well as connect with the community.
“Everything that I do, I do with a lot of love, a lot of craft and it’s really about the team. And so I hope having the collection here will really grow as a community,” Lee said.
You can reach Staff Writer Melanie Nguyen at 707-521-5457 or [email protected]. On X (Twitter) @mellybelly119
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