Ava’s Closet’s owner and operator Ava Frankovich celebrates the store’s first week open on the second floor of Sweets By Sarah at 153 Market Street. (T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA)

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – Located on the second floor of Sweets By Sarah at 153 Market Street, Ava’s Closet is striving to provide an alternative to the fast fashion that has consumed the world.

Owner and operator Ava Frankovich said that the vintage and secondhand clothing offers a unique alternative that the city was lacking.

“We have anything vintage from the early 2000s and older, which is really what I try to get, anything that’s modern, but still matches that style I’ll obviously accept,” Frankovich said. “I try to get a little bit of everything. I have one sports jersey but I’m trying to get more of those in right now.”

She added that she has a heart top and sparkly dress for Valentine’s Day.

“I’m really trying to get the niche topics that you can’t really go to Walmart or the mall to get,” Frankovich said.

The 21-year-old lifelong St.Clairsville resident said that she saw a gap in the market for residents.

“We really needed something like this, the closest place you can go to buy or sell clothes like this style is the Pittsburgh area to a Plato’s Closet or something like that. So it’s going to be really convenient to have something like this really in town,” Frankovich said. “I have vintage and secondhand clothes, basically anything that’s in style right now we’re gonna buy from you, if you’re offering it, or we’re gonna be selling it to you.”

She added that pricing depends on the item. Some items she receives are just basic items which will range from $5-$10. While vintage or new with tags items that are harder to find will be more expensive but will still be at a significant discount.

“We’re here for a bargain,” Frankovich said.

In addition to being a clothes reseller, Frankovich also has been selling crystals since she was 17 years old.

She currently sells them at Bear Necessities Candy & Soda but plans to sell them at Ava’s Closet as well.

Frankovich is passionate about reselling clothing in hopes of helping the environment.

“I always like to say anything that you want to buy clothing-wise, probably already exists in the world or can easily be made,” Frankovich said. “So it’s really important that people go to places like Goodwills, Plato’s Closet, the Salvation Army, or other resellers like here. Fast fashion is ruining the world and filling up landfills.”

According to Merriam Webster Dictionary fast fashion is an approach to the design, creation, and marketing of clothing fashions that emphasizes making fashion trends quickly and cheaply available to consumers.

The United States Government Accountability Office said the mass manufacturing of lower cost and quality apparel is delivered quickly. Consumers then might wear fast fashion items one season and toss them the next. But that’s all in the design.

Ava’s Closet is open 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays.

Frankovich said that she is in the process of making a website which should be live within a month or so but can be found on Facebook at Ava’s Closet or on Instagram @Avasclosetonfb.