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If your perfect outfit needs to transition seamlessly from work to an upscale dinner date, you might want to check out Whorl this fall. The boutique will launch its first-ever private label, Imprints by Whorl, this Thursday, which means five one-of-a-kind pieces will soon grace store racks.
While creating the in-house brand, owner and Denver native Megan Timlin and her team worked hard to keep the classic Whorl shopper in mind. “Denver is a very active city, so we want to give our clients refined, classic styles that are easy to switch from day to night,” she says.
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That’s why all the new items, including an olive green shift dress and a merino wool cape top, are practical, affordable, and versatile. Plus, conscientious Colorado shoppers will appreciate that Imprints by Whorl is truly locally made: The collection was produced at the Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design by a creative team of Colorado State University apparel and merchandising alumni, including lead designer Sydni Heldmann. It was also funded by locals—the community donated about $5,000 to help the design team turn their sketches into reality.
This symbiotic relationship was even the inspiration for the label name. “Whorl is a type of fingerprint, so we wanted ‘Imprints’ to represent our mark on our clients and their mark on us. When they choose an outfit or a piece, they choose to make their mark,” Timlin says.
Timlin and Heldmann are optimistic they will continue to make an impact in the community long after the fall launch. Starting next spring, they hope to put out two new collections each year. Timlin is also in the process of starting a non-profit organization called Fear Free, which will give teenage girls suffering from anxiety and depression the opportunity to find support and hope in group sessions with therapists and mentors. In the future, a portion of sales at Whorl will benefit Fear Free.
In the meantime, Whorl shoppers can be confident they’re supporting fashion made by and for Denver.
Bonus: Celebrate this exclusive new line at a launch party and fashion show featuring Imprints by Whorl plus three other local designers. Thursday, 6–9 p.m.; Inn at Cherry Creek, 233 Clayton St.; 303-377-8577; $20–$40