Lifestyle boutique opens in Sisters

The new lifestyle apparel boutique Wander + NW, located in Town Square, offers folks in Sisters an opportunity to shop local and enjoy some active, sporty style.

Owner Ann La Flamme has been in the retail business for 25 years.

"I named the shop Wander because of my wanderlust gypsy soul. And NW because that's where I love to do all my outdoor activities, in the Northwest," said LaFlamme.

La Flamme grew up in the Nevada City area of Northern California. She studied design and merchandizing at Sierra College in California, then moved to Central Oregon 18 years ago.

Her new partner and sister-in-law Tonna Wilkins is very happy that Wander + NW settled in downtown Sisters.

"I think Sisters is a great place for us to be to get started, and I definitely see us growing," she said. " It's the feeling I get when it comes to the community here in Sisters; the locals are amazing and everybody wants to help. I think that's what drew Ann and me to Sisters. And Wander + NW wants to be a part of that."

La Flamme is the original founder and former proprietor of Lulu's Boutique and co-founder of Ju-Bee-Lee in Bend. Both are still thriving.

"I opened my first store when I was 21," she recalled. "I feel like I was born to do this. I have wanted to expand my horizons and have always wanted to do this style of clothing, and felt there was a need for this is Sisters.

"People here have a very active lifestyle, and with a yoga community and such amazing public schools with active teens I think this is the perfect spot for the shop. I think there is a need to address teenagers and it's a market that's been overlooked. This is a lifestyle shop for people of all ages with an active sporty lifestyle."

Wander + NW offers active women's apparel with clothes for yoga, travel, and outdoor adventure with accessories, and much more, it has everything from jewelry to Hydro Flasks to seasonal footwear.

Wander + NW offers clothing lines such as Roxy, Volcom and O'Neill, the original California surf, snow and lifestyle brand, so everyone can find the latest trends and styles.

"I had been looking for a space in Sisters for a shop for about a year now, and this space seemed just right. I have always loved Sisters and Tonna and I are both from small towns," La Flamme said. "We already feel like the locals have embraced us, we've had so many well-wishes and repeat customers."

Beginning September 1, Wander + NW will add apparel for girls from tweens to teens.

"We're starting small, but with lots of creative ideas on how the shop can grow," said La Flamme.

photo by Jodi Schneider McNamee