Alexandra Rich was finishing college four and a half years ago when her mother, Donna Rich, asked for her help with opening a boutique. Since then, the mother-daughter co-owners have curated the store’s offerings and evolved its selection to offer custom-made apparel as well as a variety of skincare, home and gift items.

Alexandra was working on a real estate license before she partnered with her mother to start the clothing store, located at 1807 Broadway St., Ste. 101, Pearland. She fell in love with managing the store, she said, and has since taken inspiration from the fashion brands and trends in Los Angeles and Australia, in particular, to select items for sale in the boutique.

Alexandra and Donna frequently buy items for the store at the Dallas Market Center, but they have not been able to go since before the pandemic hit Texas. When it comes to store selection, the women collaborate with other small, Pearland-area retailers to ensure customers get a unique experience at RichGirls Boutique, Alexandra said.

Part of the draw of creating and selling custom pieces originated from this desire for the boutique to stand out.

“I just try to be different,” Alexandra said. “I am always looking for something no one else has.”

What started as a handful of orders of custom Houston Astros jean jackets turned into a lucrative part of the business: Custom apparel sales have increased and have helped the business stay profitable during the pandemic, Alexandra said.

When many shipments of other products were on back-order, Alexandra decided to “kick it into 12th gear” with custom creations and use the clothing already in stock to make new pieces, she said. While Alexandra gets outside help with certain processes, such as embroidery or screen printing, she does much of the other custom work herself in-house.

Another reason the women partner with local businesses, particularly in the era of COVID-19, has been to foster a sense of community among one another, Alexandra said. A balloon display hanging outside the store in mid-October was created by a local balloon artist, and several of the home and gift items sold at RichGirls Boutique are made by stay-at-home wives or mothers trying to launch their businesses, she added.

“We’re always [collaborating] with other people,” Alexandra said.

Future offerings will include an extended selection of facial and skin care products as well as tanning lotions and bath bombs. The boutique plans to offer gift bundles this holiday season.