Broad Ripple's newest boutique carries designer clothing from Chicos, Louis Feraud, Escada, Brooks Brothers, Ralph Lauren, and others. It is located at 1021 Broad Ripple Avenue, inside Thrifty Threads. It is stocked by the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW); the group that for 29 years held the annual Collector's Choice sale.

Carole Stein, founding member of the Collector's Choice sale, thinks they have formed a perfect partnership with Thrifty Threads. The NCJW provides the higher end merchandise and Thrifty Threads has the store and sales staff. The profits from the boutique are split between the two. Thrifty Threads helps fund the Julian Center, a safe place for abused women and their children to go for immediate help. The NCJW works for Coburn Place which offers transitional housing for families ready to leave the Julian Center but not quite ready to be on their own. The store provides vouchers to the families to shop for household goods, children's items, everyday clothing, and business attire for job interviews.

The NCJW Collector's Choice sale began 29 years ago at the Marott Hotel. Someone donated a fur coat to the first sale, so the volunteers were ecstatic when they made $1500 that year. The sale grew every year and was moved to the Broad Ripple American Legion Post on College Avenue. There were too many shoppers for the Fire Marshall's taste, so it moved to the Jewish Community Center. During the 1980s, the NCJW had a shop at 38th and College, but they made more money during the yearly sale than they did being open year-round, so they warehoused the donations. The sale grew bigger and was moved to the State Fair Grounds and by then was a huge production. The cost of storing the donations, renting the sale facility, and the time spent putting it all together was becoming unmanageable. "We weren't giving enough money back to the community," says Carole Stein.

At Thrifty Threads the NCJW maintains their own sorting and processing room and they provide their own volunteers to price and stock their merchandise. Donations for either organization are received at the back door and the donor may specify who receives the donations and then obtain the proper receipt. The NCJW turns children's items over to Thrift Threads and, in turn, Thrifty Threads gives designer clothing to the NCJW. Previously the NCJW did not have the resources to pick up furniture, but Thrifty Threads does, so they are able to work together.

"Ann DeLaney's staff has been wonderful, giving us everything we need," says Carole. This includes 800 square feet of sales floor, sales people to run the cash register, and signage in the store.

The NCJW sponsors four scholarships, giving away $15,000 last year to Indiana College students. One scholarship is aimed at foreign-born students who are new immigrants to Indiana. The Judith B. Lichtenberg Scholarship is for single parents who wish to return to school. There are twelve volunteers on the scholarship committee and they send notices to high schools about the scholarships. Every prospective recipient is interviewed by the committee.

The Bridal Superstore at Castleton donated a new wedding gown and some bridesmaids dresses to the NCJW boutique. Perfect Touch Cleaners at 86th and Ditch Road steamed the dresses for display. They also donate unclaimed clothing. An NCJW member painted a wall in the boutique with the trademark 1920s lady they have used for years as their logo. "This is an avenue for people to share their skills. We have a lot of dedicated volunteers." states Carole.

Merchandise at Thrifty Threads and the new NCJW boutique is ever-changing. Stop in and shop regularly and don't forget to use the coupon in the Broad Ripple Gazette for an even better deal.