Exclusive clothing, glittering bags and bling-bling shoes. The boutique of Joyca (59) in Sint Willebrord would not look out of place in one of the most famous shopping streets in the Netherlands. “I have my own piece of PC Hooftstraat here,” laughs the charming owner as she proudly opens her remarkable garage shop.
Joyca has been in fashion for years, but it was a dream for her to start her own boutique in a garage. “Fashion is my passion and my life. This is what I like to do.” Residents are queuing this morning before the Willebrord woman opens the shutters of her garage.
While the boutique is still a special sight for people outside the village, the residents of Sint Willebrord are now used to it. “People actually don’t care about this. As long as it resonates and is fun, they are happy to come by. Besides, they all know me here. If they don’t agree with something, they will let it be known. That is typical of here.”
“We like unusual things here.”
Joyca regularly flies back and forth to Spain to buy the clothes. Travel suits, fur jackets and trendy suits are selling like hot cakes at Joyca. “We like special things in the village that are all slightly different. I now only buy things that I like.”
When Joyca has several customers over, it is a matter of trying and measuring in the garage shop. Yet Joyca does not want to move to another place for anything.
“It remains a garage.”
“In principle I wouldn’t have to renovate, but I will adapt the facade and decorate the inside nicely. For my own convenience and better service for customers.”
Does the store not lose its charm? “It’s still a garage, isn’t it.”
READ ALSO: Here you will find most of Brabant’s nail stylists: ‘Part of identity’
Reporters Erik Peeters and Raoul Cartens and editor Robert te Veele were with their pop-up editorial team in Community House De Lanteern Sint Willebrord from Monday September 11 to Friday September 15. Would you like to share your story about Sint Willebrord with us? Which can. Send an e-mail to [email protected] or app us on 040-2949492.