PORTLAND’S BLUER THAN INDIGO CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING

by Stephen Garner
Left to right: Portland Timbers George Forchive, Portland Timbers Jeff Shafer (ceo/designer Agave Denim and owner, Bluer Than Indigo) Taylor Peay (Portland Timbers) Rodney Wallace (Portland Timbers Jeffrey C. Wolfstone (Corporate Counsel/Agave)
Left to right: Portland Timbers George Forchive, CEO / designer Agave Denim and Owner Bluer Than Indigo Jeff Shafer, Portland Timbers Taylor Peay and Rodney Wallace, Corporate Counsel / Agave Jeffrey C. Wolfstone

Portland, Oregon retailer Bluer Than Indigo celebrated the grand opening of their new store on September 30 with a private shopping night hosted by Agave Denim, with members of Oregon’s popular Timbers soccer team on hand, followed by an October 1 party which was open to the public.

All customers were not only invited to shop, but also take part in the store’s “Buy One, Give One” jean exchange program, which offers a $10 discount to anyone who brings in a used pair of jeans. All ‘Buy One, Give One’ donations will be given to the Portland Rescue Mission. Additionally, 10 percent of sales during both events went to benefit The Positive Coaching Alliance.

Jeff Shafer, owner and creative director of Bluer Than Indigo, told MR,“The grand opening of our Bluer Than Indigo store was a tremendous success.” He added, “We have been open for about four months, but did not want to have a grand opening until we felt we were ready and had proof the concept was a success. We partnered with two charities for the event; 10% of all sales for the two day event went to Positive Coaching Alliance, a national non-profit developing ‘Better Athletes, Better People’ by working to provide all youth and high school athletes a positive, character-building youth sports experience. All jeans donated through Bluer’s Buy One, Give One jean exchange were given to Portland Rescue Mission which provides food, shelter, recovery and other vital services to men, women and children affected by homelessness, addiction and abuse.”

The shop, which is housed in an 100-year-old building in Portland’s Alberta Arts District, stocks an eclectic mix of women’s and men’s products all hand-selected by Shafer and his team of designers. These labels include Shafer’s own brands Bluer Denim and Agave, as well as Jaxkelly, Deus Ex Machina, Paradise City, Schott NYC, Wood & Faulk, Shwood Eyewear and Retro Brand.