Just four small words can make a big impact on rescued horses and people facing mental health issues.
In 2020, Martha Wise, owner of the White Rose Eclectics women’s clothing boutique, launched a Beautiful People Gala to benefit the Aiken Salvation Army and its homeless shelters. In her second year at the Gala, Wise kept thinking as she thanked her patrons for their support. Aiken is a small town with a big heart.
“I remembered that slogan, so I wanted to make a T-shirt with that slogan, but I wanted to wear horses and dogs and horseback riding, because that’s what Aiken is about,” says Weisz. I was. “There are a lot of people looking for something with Aiken on it.”
Wise presented her idea to graphic designer Maria Zubati, who after months of discussions and prototypes created the perfect design. It’s her T-her shirt with horses and dogs and the words “Aiken, small town, big heart.” ’ They arrived in stores last August.
Proceeds from the sale of t-shirts will be split equally between Aiken Equine Rescue and Mental Health America.
“That’s why we help horses and people,” said Wise, who grew up riding for fun.
The T-shirts are available in two colors, lavender and blue. A tote bag based on lavender and blue is also available. Both are sold at While Rose Eclectics at 142 Laurens St. SW in downtown Aiken.
It is especially important to Wise to be able to help rescue Aiken horses at our facility at 532 Glenwood Drive in South Aiken. Its mission is to “rescue unwanted horses suffering from abuse or neglect, work with various racetracks to ‘reuse’ off-track Thoroughbreds, and horses whose owners are no longer able to care for them.” to take and give all. It’s where they will stay until they are taken in by their loved ones,” according to its website.
“I grew up with horses. I love horses,” said Wise. “I think horse rescue is doing great things, but a lot of people don’t know about it. I thought, “There are people who have lived here all their lives and have never been outside. It’s a clean facility. They just need help.”
Supporting the community has always been an important part of Wise’s business. Previously, when she worked for the Salvation Army, she would donate 10% of her store sales to the organization in a given month.
The store was a stop at the annual Marine Toy Drive for Toddlers before Christmas. The promotion also includes asking customers to bring in toys and get him 10 percent off, Wise said.
Wise’s future philanthropic project is a fashion show that will likely benefit Aiken Equine Rescue and Mental Health America as well, but she hasn’t started working on the details yet.
Wise, who grew up in Lexington and now lives in Ridge Springs, brought the business to Aiken five years ago from West Columbia. She ran her first store in the back of her former Artisans Market next to her Cook’s What’s on Lawrence Street.
Half a year later, Aiken florists Weisz and Katherine Slayton opened a store together on the southeast corner of Pendleton Street and Richland Avenue and named it White Rose Eclectics. Slayton moved out a year after her to launch her Katherine By Design, and Wise stayed for another year.
She then moved White Rose Eclectics to its current location on Laurens Street between Aiken Brewing Company and Cyndi’s Sweet Shoppe.
Mr. Wise calls his business a “women’s clothing boutique,” and the retail store has an inviting, comfortable atmosphere, perfect for browsing and shopping. The shop carries women’s he apparel in sizes up to 3X, from everyday casual wear to special occasion apparel including evening her gowns and cocktail wear. The shop also sells accessories and shoes. Aiken disorder hats sell well in the spring.
Wise, who started a second-hand clothing retailer in Western Columbia, also has a small rack of second-hand clothes.
“I still love vintage clothes, so when I find something funky and fun, I pick it up,” Weisz said. Really, our demographic, the majority of our demographic is probably over 40, but there are some 16 year olds who come here and shop with us. I have.”
A section of the shop is devoted to embellished clothing personally designed and created by Wise.
“That’s all the unique clothing I do,” Weisz said.
Dina Coleman and Patricia Collins work part-time at the store.
Weisz attributed her love of fashion to her mother, whom she called “a considerable dressmaker.” The store is named after Wise’s mother, Elouise and Rosa, who grew up in Nacogdoches, East Texas.
“When we had an artisanal boutique in West Columbia, it was the White Rose Artisan boutique,” said Wise. “About a year or so before I opened the boutique, my mother passed away. The white roses represent someone you loved and is no longer with you. Going to church on Mother’s Day.” If the mother is deceased, she wears a white rose.”
When Wise and Slayton combined fashion and flowers in their Pendleton Street store, they changed the name to White Rose Eclectics.
The shop is decorated with family photos of his mother, who has been an antique dealer for 30 years.
“This is my favorite photo of my mom when she was younger. Everyone always asks, ‘Who is this picture of?'” Weisz said. “It’s funny. People are always very interested in this picture. They ask, ‘Is she a movie star?’ No, it’s my mother. I am amazed at their interest. ”
A photo of her mother and father, TA Fore, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and wore the uniform pictured, hangs behind the counter.
“I love being here, especially after I named the store after my mother,” Weisz said.
Most of Wise’s business career has been in retail. Weisz ran a vintage clothing store for six years, then opened her Western clothing store in West Columbia, where she spent ten years. After running an insurance agency for her 14 years, West returned to retail in the Colombian artisan market.
“Except for a few years, I’ve been working for myself since I was about 25,” she said.
Weisz was born and raised in South Carolina, with most of her immediate family living in or near Palmetto, but her extended family is from Texas and traveled during Christmas and summer vacations as a child.
When she’s not working, Weisz works on decorated clothes in her studio and makes Christmas items.
“When you’re inside the house all day, it’s nice to be outside,” she said.
Weisz called the move to Aiken, especially Lawrence Street, “fantastic”.
She knows many of her customers, some of whom she has shopped with since she opened on Pendleton Street.
“They’re just great,” Weisz said. “Then there are a lot of out-of-town people. We have new people coming in from Pennsylvania, California, Oregon, Ohio, especially those four states who are thinking of moving here, even Florida.”
The other downtown merchants also became friends.
“I love Aiken,” Weisz said. “You rarely meet mean people here. It’s very rare. They care about the community. They care about the animals. They are very people-giving. It’s like a little New York City – a melting pot of people.
