Imagine Artwear Bids Farewell to King Street
'It's the diagnosis that has changed my life,' says Supplee of Huntington's disease
ALEXANDRIA, VA-Vowing to continue her ongoing online presence, Carol Supplee, the owner of Imagine Artwear, sees the silver lining in a sad departure from her shop at 1124 King St. Many recognize the store by the lively outdoor mural, along with her Imagine bench and an Anthony and Cleopatra concrete sculpture setee.
As news spreads of her decision to close at the end of May, Supplee said she has been flooded with offers from friends and acquaintances from the Old Town community to help mind the shop as she attempts to reduce her work hours. Last December, she was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease. Suplee plans to give her full attention to turning the store into an online shop and writing a blog highlighting her world travel.
“It’s the diagnosis that has changed my life,” she said. “It was about the middle of January when I said this is a game-changer so I said I would have to close the store.”
For more than three decades, she has hand-selected every item in her store from independent artists. Items include silk jackets, shirts, shawls, jewelry, and copper and aluminum sculptures.
Since her start on June 1, 1992, when she bought a store just three blocks east of her current location, Supplee has made friends with artists across the nation. With the exception of Avoca Mill brand wool scarves from Avoca, Ireland, the store has offered only American-made arts over the years. The business has supported the success of a long list of artists from around the country.
The shop was renamed Imagine Artwear in 1996, inspired by what is John Lennon’s most famous song apart from his work with The Beatles. Artwear is what it sounds like: wearable art.
Supplee shared that she will retain the name online and continue to offer the latest designs and styles to customers.
When customer Asrat Woldeslassie stopped by to offer say hello, she was stylishly dressed, noting several pieces she purchased from the store.
“I have that and that and that. Everything I have on I got here,” Woldeslassie laughed as she pointed to various designer racks around the shop. “We have known each other a long time. Carol is a very sweet and very professional person.” As she left, she gave Supplee a hug and promised to return.
Supplee said she is “constantly reminded by people who come in how long they have been ‘collecting’ the clothing. It’s very nice.”
Moments later, a psychotherapist from around the block, stopped came in to buy blown glass trivets for an open house he would host.
“I’ve bought many a Christmas present and birthday gifts and many things for myself and my office here,” said Robert E. Schulte as he paid for his trivets. “Her items move the conversation with [my] patients, People associate with interesting things from a painting or other artwork and it moves them to discuss more.”
In addition to other ringing endorsements of Supplee’s business and contributions, Supplee received the First Night Alexandria Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022. She is one of the organization’s founding members.
She recalled celebrating New Year’s Eve for 25 years and how Imagine Artwear participated in open houses that were once a part of the celebration. “I opened all night, and I had musicians performing here in the store some years ago.”
As Supplee moves ahead with her plans, items will be discounted 20 to 40 percent. “I’ll continue online,” she said wistfully.
The Imagine Artwear website can be found at imagineartwear.com.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story contained a misspelling of Supplee’s surname. We regret the error. It has been corrected.
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