New clothing store to open on Commons

The Commons is adding another member to its vibrant family of retail businesses next week.

Breathe, an independently owned women's clothing and accessory store, will open Monday, offering products with a colorful look and a nod to the feel of downtown Ithaca's business atmosphere.

"It's been non-stop traffic all week long," Scott Dolphin, the store's general manager, said. "We're not even open yet and people have been pushing themselves up against the glass trying to buy stuff. It's like being in a goldfish bowl."

The store is owned by a team of three local investors led by Todd Nau, a former lead designer for Ralph Lauren and Levi Strauss. The group closed on a small business loan with M&T Bank for the 1,280-square-foot storefront in Center Ithaca. The store employs six, with the possibility of more staff based on the store's success.

Dolphin said the store wants to provide products from the low-end to the high-end, being mindful of providing nationally recognized, domestic brands made of natural fibers.

Nau said the store will seek to provide brands not already available at neighboring stores.

"We are trying to tie into the vibe of the local community, providing jobs and focusing on lines that are domestically made," Dolphin said. "A lot of stores in Ithaca carry locally made products. We're not trying to compete with them, but we're trying to bring in vendors looking for other outlets and enhance the business area."

The interior of the store was designed by Dolphin and features different symbols — from Sanskrit to Arabic — painted on the walls, nodding to different cultures.

"There's a real concept behind it," Nau said. "A lot of thought was put into what we're trying to convey and, ultimately, how we tried to express it."

Inventory will include clothing from Lucky Brand, NYDJ, Kut Jeans, CP Shades, Flax and Neon Buddha. Dolphin said he has this season's inventory lined up and expects to be fully stocked by winter.

The storefront neighbors American Crafts and 15 Steps on the Commons. Though the store will officially open Monday, a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Downtown Ithaca Alliance will officially mark its launch on Thursday, July 9.

Follow Nick Reynolds on Twitter @IJCityWatch.