Satin & Spur, a vintage western boutique offering both men's and women's clothing and accessories, opened May 30th at Bayview Center Plaza. Owner Alya Amsden has already built a following on Whidbey and beyond for the shop's curated selection of western wear. Alya moved to Whidbey last year after living in Ireland for eight years with her husband, a Washington native, for his job.
Alya frequently travels all over the country hunting for inventory, with a particular eye for details and patterns from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. She also frequents garage sales, estate sales, and retailers along the way. New merchandise drops every Wednesday, with daily posts on Facebook, Instagram and Tic Tok keeping customers up to date between visits.
Alya describes herself as a jack of all trades. She studied interior design at Arizona State University, which shaped the store's layout and visual design. Early retail experience taught her how to merchandise and display product. She's built her digital marketing and copywriting skills through hands-on experience and has put her experience to work running the shop's social media and website content. She's also a certified AI prompt engineer, a skill set she applies to the business side of things like accounting, documentation, and licensing. Her love of western life goes back further than any job, though: she grew up owning horses in Maine, working ranches and teaching kids to ride at summer camp.
"I've always loved to shop and hunt for hidden gems, and I've always loved anything western. Satin & Spur is where those two things finally came together," Alya says.
A website is planned within the next month.
Future events:
September 26: Custom Cowboy Hat Bar. Tickets available for $10 at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/build-your-own-hat-bar-at-satin-spur-tickets-1999419175577.
October 18: Whiskey Sipping and Shopping at Fair Market, 1675 E. Main Street in Freeland.
