Nestled inside a 120-year-old building, the Vessel and Threads boutique is a treasure trove of hand-selected women’s clothing and gifts.

Owner Allison Ashby originally started the business as a traveling show named Simply Style in St. Louis. Ashby continued the operation after moving to Montgomery in late 2007, and in September 2012 the boutique was renamed Vessel and Threads.

For nearly three years the boutique has offered an eclectic mix of clothing, small household furnishings and gifts in downtown Montgomery. For Ashby, however, the shop became a vessel through which she could reinvent her life following one of her most challenging experiences: the death of her husband, Mark, in 2010.

“I had no idea my fun little hobby would turn into a business, and that God was really preparing me for what was about to happen to my family and ultimately be a source of provision and supply for my kids,” Ashby said. “We lost Mark four months and three days from his [cancer] diagnosis. I have two small boys and all of my family was on the East Coast and in Missouri, so I had to rely on God.”

Opening the boutique gave Ashby an avenue to connect with other members in the community. Since then she has grown the business to include oft-requested items.

“People come in now and find it to be a treasure hunt,” Ashby said. “I think the scope of what we carry has grown because we have seen needs, like carrying a baby line and a few little dog toys and some books.”

The boutique offers hand-selected products, as well as name-brand items like Johnny Was and Free People clothing and Designers Guild and Guild Masters home decor. However, store Manager Averi Beighle said the boutique is successful because of the store’s emphasis on maintaining strong relationships with customers.

“I try to be myself and be unique and not be afraid to show who I really am,” Beighle said. “Showing [customers] that you want to form a relationship with them and that you are not just there to get their money helps them see that you are genuine, and it encourages them to come back.”

To that end, boutique walls and mirrors are decorated with words of encouragement for female customers who Ashby said could be critical of themselves when shopping for clothes.

“Women have a tendency to look down on themselves a lot,” Ashby said. “We try to be encouraging. We can make them laugh, and we can make them happy, and we sure try.”