KC clothing store of 15 years fears closure after tariffs, slow season
There’s many reasons why Melissa Evans feels her business is a special place.
As a lover of vintage fashion, Evans knows her clothes can’t be found just anywhere. She carries thrifted garments and specialty pieces at Retro Vixen, 1620 W. 39th St. Most of her non-consignment inventory is manufactured in the U.K.
More than that, she’s seen firsthand how fashion has impacted customers who are perhaps noticing their own beauty for the first time. Retro Vixen’s goal is to be a safe space for shoppers.
“There was a lady in here the other day … she was trying on dresses,” she said. “She started crying, like, ‘I have not felt so empowered in so long.’”
But after a major tariff increase on foreign clothes worsened an already slow season, Evans is fearing she may have to close.
She’s set up a GoFundMe and made a cry for help on social media to let customers know she’s struggling. She hopes it will save her niche fashion store near Westport, which has been open for 15 years.
“It’s scary to ask for help,” Evans said. “You have that whole like, imposter syndrome, and what if people are mean?”
Her goal is set for $20,000, hoping to cover business costs and pay for her manager, whose hours have been cut because of the financial strain. So far, she’s raised over $4,000.
Exact tariff amounts fluctuate and vary based on source, but Evans reported orders reaching orders increasing by as much as 50%.
“It was shocking to see how much the amount went up,” she said.
Evans plans to use all the money from the GoFundMe to help put the business back on its feet.
She also believes fewer customers have come in because they, too, are feeling the financial pinch. Other clothing stores may also be feeling the strain of tariffs.
Steve Lamar, CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association, warned in an August CNBC article that rising tariffs would hurt the industry.
“Continued high tariffs from key sourcing countries, last-minute policy shifts, and unclear new requirements are creating the perfect storm for a difficult holiday season and a challenging spring,” he said. “America’s most popular brands and retailers are in a flurry of navigating the still-unpublished details of new trade deals. As they plan for Spring 2026, they’re weighing tough choices: whether to raise prices, cut jobs, or reduce the range of products offered to consumers.”
Through the troubling trends, Evans said it’s been heartening to hear so many kind words from community members. She’s seen an influx of shoppers since she posted the GoFundMe.
“It’s more than a shop. It’s been a really important community,” she said. “I don’t want to close because I know we need this community.”