Downtown Ames offers a variety of shopping opportunities, and The Loft Resale and Oak Lane Candle Co. seek to provide customers with high-quality, sustainable options.

The Loft Resale is a consignment store where people donate their clothes and make money as their clothing sells in the store.

“We help people sell their clothing and get a little money back for it and keep clothing out of the landfills,” said Holly Eide, manager of The Loft Resale.

The Loft Resale is owned by Amy Abrams and Eric Abrams and strives to provide quality items at a fraction of the price.

“It adds a great option for lower-priced clothing items in the downtown setting,” Eide said.

Stacy Negrete, owner of Oak Lane Candle Co., never intended to have her own business. She taught herself how to make candles to fundraise for the adoption of her son and daughter from Uganda and had so much success that in 2015 she opened Oak Lane Candle Co. Now, Negrete sells a variety of 100% soy wax candles, cards, jewelry and gifts.

“Not only do we have high-quality products, our candles are all made right here right in front of the customers that are in here,” Negrete said.

Oak Lane Candle Co. is also in collaboration with We the Dreamerz, a collection of second-hand, sustainable and vintage clothing pieces. Negrete explained the mission behind providing sustainable and ethical clothing.

“A lot of times people don’t even think about it—-you just click order and you expect to get your package in two days, and that’s that,” Negrete said. “Usually you wear it for a few weeks or a couple months and then it ends up in the thrift store, or realistically, it ends up in third-world countries.”

Besides the environmental impact of fast fashion, Negrete believes shopping from fast fashion companies such as Shein and Target limits style and creativity.

“Our goal is to put an end to fast fashion,” Negrete said. “Not only is it terrible for the environment but it’s also kind of compromising your own personal style.”

“Our goal is to put an end to fast fashion,” Negrete said. “Not only is it terrible for the environment but it’s also kind of compromising your own personal style.”