When Leisis Stevenson opened “Her Swag Shop” – her new clothing and accessories boutique in Key Largo – in December, she did so with purpose.
Sitting behind a perfectly curated and carved Balinese desk in her perfectly curated and colorful little shop, she tells the Weekly, “I want people to feel good when they walk in here. I want them to feel like they’re going to find something, like they’re on a treasure hunt – like they’re connecting with a piece of themselves or coming home to something.”
Her pride in what she’s created overflows as she describes how every decision, every nook and cranny in her chic shop, is her. She adds, “I love this place. I hope everyone can find a place where they can feel like this. I want to create that feeling for others – here. Right here.”
The “HER” in the shop name is actually an acronym for “Hermanas Empowerment Resolve.” Stevenson explains: “It means, helping my sisters rise, at all costs. In this life, that is what I am dedicated to.”
Stevenson refused to buy into the idea that girls must always compete with each other, rather than be friends and supportive. “That’s not how I vibe,” she laughs, rejecting these notions that she was raised with.
The store is an “Angel and Allies Boutique.” Angels and Allies is a social enterprise that Stevenson founded in 2018 to help women and girls feel seen and heard; proceeds from Her Swag Shop support that work. The goal for both enterprises is to encourage women to live more authentically, as drivers – rather than passengers – within their own experiences.
“We provide tools so that women and girls can feel empowered as the leaders of their lives,” Stevenson glows as she explains. “It’s a big statement, and we connect people with whatever they need to do that, whether that’s with therapists, teachers, support groups to feel like better moms or resources to start their own businesses.”
She accomplished her transformational work through workshops hosted at schools and organizations. However, the pandemic shifted her model, as she could not host in-person events.
Frustrated by COVID closures and the lack of funding for these critical empowerment workshops, Stevenson began selling stuff online – earrings and bags mostly – to her friends to meet the need. She recalls the pitch: “Hey, if you buy this bag, the proceeds go to 10 girls for 5 workshops. It buys all the books, journals and pens we need for this summer’s workshops.”
That’s how Her Swag Shop started. Eventually, the online store hosted a few pop-ups at the Market for Makers in Miami, and, after Stevenson moved her family to the Keys, she found a perfect spot at MM 99, Bayside, for a brick-and-mortar place. It sits across from the Wyland building, in a little row of motel rooms turned boutiques.
Full of boho chic linen outfits, beaded necklaces and rattan bags, her storefront accomplishes her mission in multiple ways. First, she makes everything herself or sources from local women artisans, women-owned companies, or organizations that support women and children. This is intentional; the first-generation Cubana makes a conscious decision to create pathways for women through what she chooses to sell.
Second, she wants everyone to find something that resonates deeply with them. This is where the “Swag” bit of Her Swag Shop comes in. “Swag is your fashion footprint,” the fashionista explains. “It’s just as individual as you are. No one can change your swag.”
She adds, “I love fashion; I love clothes; I love how we can express ourselves through different things we find, and how someone else’s art can channel what we’re feeling and create a connection between us and the artist.”
Finally, the “Shop” bit. “I am consciously creating something where people feel good,” Stevenson says. She wants to use this space to serve people. More than a shopping experience, she is cultivating a safe space for all to connect with themselves and each other, she says.
And so, every day, Stevenson and her mom welcome clients and friends-to-be into their slice of paradise – one that’s filled with intention, love, color and joy. It’s a big mandate for a small shop, and one that they happily fill each day. For the latest styles and swag, visit Her Swag Shop on Instagram at @herswag.shop or in person at 99228 Overseas Highway.
