Bola International Boutique – LOST GEM
Bola International Boutique – LOST GEM
2 West 125th StreetNew York, NY 10027
W 42nd Street, W 50th Street, East River Plaza
From the outside, the small doorway into Bola’s International Boutique might be overlooked as one of the numerous small businesses that open and then disappear from the streets of Harlem. This impression would be mistaken, however, as Bola has been in business at this location since 1994. Originally from Nigeria, Bola emigrated to the U.S. in 1977. After starting out doing seamstress work from her home, she decided to open a boutique to make use of her passion for sewing. This passion stems from her father, who was also a tailor. At her shop, she sells clothing, headpieces, and fabrics, many of which are made with African materials or modeled on African styles and traditional dress. The walls of her shop are lined with her creations, and upon walking in, one’s attention is caught by the vibrant, intricate designs and patterns. Beyond the ready-made clothes she sells, she also provides alteration services, custom clothing for her clients, and even sewing lessons to any interested aspiring tailors.
Above all, Bola’s priority is the satisfaction of her customers. “That is my joy and pride,” she asserted. “If I work with you, I work with you whole-heartedly and with sincerity.” Her devotion to her craft and clients has clearly paid off, as her business has stayed alive despite the mounting difficulty of owning a small shop in an area increasingly overtaken by chains and corporations. She has no plans to relocate. “Harlem is my home; the store is my home,” she told us.
She attributes the secret of her longevity to word of mouth and the fact that she has maintained mostly the same regular customers since she opened in the 1990s. When asked about her clientele, she maintained that “everybody is my customer,” as she gets anyone from dance academies in need of African costumes for a performance to people attracted to the vibrancy of the clothes for everyday use. Bola’s genuineness and clear enjoyment of what she does make her shop an appealing spot for everyone to visit.