Harper Grace and Co. Boutique opening for business

WASILLA — There’s a new boutique starting up in Wasilla that’s ready to support families across the world, one transaction at a time.

Harper Grace and Co. Boutique owner Kalley Harmon is sending a onesie to donate to neonatal intensive care units worldwide for every sale. She said this new and exciting adventure is all in the name of her niece, Harper Grace who died as a stillborn at full term in 2016. She said that she’s overjoyed to see her niece’s name on the building and the initial word getting out across the community.

“When someone has a miscarriage or loses a baby or something like that it just becomes one of those things you don’t talk about… I just wanted to bring light to her name, to where when people said it brought a smile to their face… It just made sense it just means so much to me and my sister, just wanted to keep her name alive,” Harmon said.

Harmon’s 2-year-old daughter Aspen was born prematurely and spent time in the NICU before they were finally able to take her home. This further inspired her to find a way to give back and honor women everywhere.

“It just kinda goes into something that I went through as a mom that kinda shaped me, but it also is about my sister who went something as a mom that shaped her and just really kind of brings us together as moms. The NICU part is something a lot of people can resonate with and also losing a child is something people can resonate with too. So, I think that’s what a community of women should be,” Harmon said.

Harmon said the store has been open solely for online sales since Jan. 1. She noted that her original plan was to operate purely online, but the initial boom in sales and overall interest generated across the community encouraged her to go all in with a brick and mortar.

“Our first two months we just blew it out of the park to where it just kind of made sense to get a storefront and move more into being a full-fledged business instead of just owning a business out of my house,” Harmon said.

The storefront will officially open to the public for in-person shopping with a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce April 3. Harmon said there will be giveaways for customers and food trucks serving meals onsite. She was especially thrilled to be able to open the doors during the same month as Harper’s birthday.

“It’s just kind of cool, just everything I thought my business would be… It just kind of expanded even more than I expected so fast. So, it’s real exciting,” Harmon said.

According to Harmon, they shipped 240 onesies in January and 89 in February to various NICUs through the Heaven Sent program. She said that she designs the onesies that are screen printed in California before being shipped anywhere in the world, all in Harper’s name.

“It just brings her passing away and being in heaven, it just kind of brings it all together, almost like the babies in the NICU are handpicked by her,” Harmon said.

Harmon said the boutique focuses on women’s clothing that carries selections of all sizes. Her wares include hand picked items from Californian retailers as well as graphic tops featuring her custom designs.

“I just want it to be something where they feel good, it’s affordable, there’s something for everybody, and a place where they feel welcome to come in and shop or meet a new friend,” Harmon said.

Looking forward, Harmon aims to expand to a larger location. She said that one of her ultimate aspirations is to establish an additional location in the Lower 48 to further spread her special mission.

“That’s what I set out to do, was bring Harper’s name back to life and let her name brings smiles to people’s faces around the world. My whole mission of doing that is just coming to fruition,” Harmon said.

Harper Grace and Co. Boutique is located at 1201 Nicola Avenue, number 4 in Wasilla. For more information, visit their Facebook page or call 907-521-4911.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com