Relish offers modern innovations for living

Ingredients for living don't have to be traditional, plain or even trendy. Why buy lackluster items when you can buy something luxurious with original style? There's a new store in town where you can find a fresh innovative way to decorate, dress and reinvigorate your way of living. Relish, 204 N. Morton St., provides everything to create a unique, ultra-modern look in clothes and accessories and at home.\nOpened for just eight weeks, the new store attracts a variety of IU students and local customers who want merchandise that's high in quality and departs from the norm, its owners say. The items go for a wide range of prices and are reasonable in comparison to national vendors of similar objects.\n"I don't understand why people want to look like everyone else does," said Sharon Fugate, who co-owns the store with her husband Brad. "Creating your own style is much more appealing, and I think that our clients feel the same way."\nRelish has a large collection of contemporary furniture, clothing, kitchenware, home décor, body products, shoes and accessories. The products are object-oriented and focus on the details of structure and design. The furniture and home decorations are architecturally defined and unique. A trip to Relish can help spice up your home with a sense of flavor that is extraordinarily different from standard pieces. The unusual designs are eye-catching and can be utterly appealing to the average consumer. \n"We are less concerned with being trendy than other stores are," Fugate said.\nThe store's jewelry collection has a variety of earrings, bracelets, bangles, rings and necklaces that are either beaded or crafted with Italian Murano glass. \n"They're made on a well known island off of Venice, Italy," said Brad Fugate. "They've been blowing glass there for centuries."\nRelish also currently is selling a large array of leather accessories. The striped gloves by Adrienne Vittadini have flown out of the store, owners said, and popular leather bags by Maxx and Hobo are available in various colors and sizes. The Hobo passport bags and wallets displayed turn into clutches. The store also carries stylish leather laptop cases that are Italian-designed and French-made. \nThe clothing sold at Relish is by boutique designers and isn't sold in department stores. The Relish owners said their favorite clothing designers are Neesh and Asian designer An Ren. The clothes are classy with silhouette shapes as an essential detail. The Fugates described the clothing as in line with Urban Outfitters.\nAsymmetrical seam lines and flowing materials give character to otherwise clichéd pieces, such as lace and cargo skirts. Warm printed jackets reflect the styles of this fall season but embody fur and colorful accents that makes them original. The chic scarves and hats sold at Relish come in many styles and patterns, and offer protection from cold weather. \n"I thought that it was just a cool furniture store," said IU student Erica Levine. "I was surprised when I walked in to find such different clothes that were really very pretty."\nThe store's stock will expand even more in the future. Relish owners have recently purchased a new body product line called Zents. The line includes 10 basic scents of soaps, lotions and body salts that can be worn alone or layered with one another. \n"Zents encourages you to create your own scent, which is much like the philosophy of our clothing," Sharon Fugate said.\nThe new and popular store seems to offer the best of almost everything. Relish offers Bloomington residents a unique blend of furniture, clothing and accessories that can add flair to personal style.\n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Zalkin at mzalkin@indiana.edu.