Wear in Good Health, which opened in Highland Park in March, is a new luxury apparel brand. It is also the name of the store owned by Grace Steer, 45, of Glenview.
“The line embodies true luxury, comfort and style for every woman from size extra small through 3XL,” Steer said. “We believe that beauty is essential for all women. It makes for the wondrous, the sensual and joyful. To “Wear In Good Health” is to make beautifully crafted, uniquely body-refining garments that allow the body to breathe, to move freely, and to look and feel its best.”
What sets you apart from similar businesses?
Our fabrics are really something special and the construction of our garments is pretty unique and groundbreaking. Many of our skirts and pants have shapewear built into them. Also, 95 percent of our line is made from OEKO-TEX(R) Standard 100 fabrics that add another level of “healthy,” and contain none of the carcinogenic chemicals (formaldehyde, for example) found to be the norm in other apparel. Finally, we produce everything in America. No sweatshops and exploitation. We sell direct to our customers and at much lower margins because we want our clothing to be as affordable as possible for what we are making.
What made you want to open this type of store?
As a new brand, we wanted to present our clothing in the context of our own environment and offer the shopping experience and service we envisioned for our customers.
Why did you decide to open your business in Highland Park?
More Top Picks Best Golf Ball Retrievers For Water Hazards
We love that the downtown serves as a town center and that it is easy-going and family friendly.
Why did you pick this specific location?
The raw space, which we renovated completely, allowed for the natural light and open floor plan with a comfortable airiness and warmth that we felt was in line with our brand.
What obstacles did you find when you started?
Being an unknown in the industry, I had to start from scratch to develop relationships and earn the trust of everyone who is a part of making our line possible. Their faith in our concept is very important. Being small, you tend to fight a losing battle when you encounter problems with larger companies or agencies. You have to let certain things go … for sanity’s sake.
If you could offer local officials one piece of advice to make their town more attractive to entrepreneurs, what would it be?
As a retailer, keeping construction permit costs to a minimum is helpful … but otherwise, the City of Highland Park was very easy to work with.
Did you make use of any programs or incentives offered by an organization or local government?
We joined the Chamber of Commerce and participated in a few local fashion events.
What mistakes did you make?
Too many to recount.
What did you do right?
We do not compromise on quality. We have great relationships with our partners that are based on mutual respect and consideration. We also make our clothing accessible to women of all shapes and sizes by offering a much wider range of sizes.
What advice would you give to someone else looking to open a business in Highland Park?
Offer exceptional products and service.
What are your hours/address/phone number/website?
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and by appointment Sunday and Monday; 1819 Saint Johns Ave., Highland Park; 847-748-8046; wearingoodhealth.com