Purpose Boutique is not your typical boutique. Purpose is a boutique that offers a girlfriend-style shopping experience with unique and trend-forward products that change lives. They are a women’s clothing and accessory boutique that exists to help fight human trafficking.

In August 2013, founder Christie Johnson took a bold step and opened her first Purpose Boutique in Bremerton. She took the idea of combining her lifelong passion for style and fashion with her love for people and created a boutique that people would love, all while generously giving to those in need.

According to Johnson, “God gave her this dream” for a business, though it was outside of her comfort zone. She knew it was a “God-dream” because the creation of it was so beautiful. Johnson said if she could accomplish this dream, it could help change people’s lives for the better.

“In the end, it was that love that I had for style and fashion that was able to be the instrument for this bigger dream of changing lives,” said Johnson.

Purpose has locations in Kirkland, Tacoma-Ruston and Silverdale. They currently have around 40 women working at their three locations.

Purpose partners with a variety of brands that empower people worldwide. They carry more than 20 empowerment brands that bring dignified work and fair wages to victimized people around the world. Purpose has sold thousands upon thousands pieces of jewelry that have been made directly by women who are marginalized, trafficked or who are in extreme poverty. They also donate 1 percent of every sale or 10 percent of net profits, whichever is higher, to Rescue: Freedom International to fight human trafficking.

When people chose to buy at Purpose, they are changing lives. And that is why they believe how you shop can change a life.

Some life-changing impacts from Purpose to date:

They have donated $70,000 to Rescue: Freedom International, sold 37,500 products made with dignity by former victims of human trafficking and poverty and donated 4,800 shoes through TOMS. Purpose partners with a variety of empowerment brands, including 31 Bits Jewelry, TOMS, The Shine Project, The Giving Keys, Open Arms, the Starfish Project, Claro Candlesand and many more.

In addition to donating a portion of every sale, they also offer personal styling and host Purpose parties. Purpose offers styling to everybody. Their educated stylists know body types, brands and fit. Stylists will put rooms together by adding shoppers’ pieces and other accessories that are out of their comfort zone. At Purpose parties, the boutique hosts styling sessions for different groups. People can book parties and come in after hours.

“How you shop can change a life brings awareness and connection to the way we shop and the way we look at product. It’s not only for ourselves but it can also be helping somebody else,” said Warehouse and Online Manager Marisa Moore. “I think it just carries a different weight to it when you know that it’s making a difference and that it’s not just something for yourself.”

From day one, Johnson’s vision was to change lives locally and abroad.

“I love that changing lives doesn’t just mean the survivors of trafficking. When you use business to change lives, it impacts everyone involved,” said Johnson. “It changes the lives of our team and costumers.”

Purpose hopes to continue expansion in the greater Seattle region by opening another retail location in 2019. To learn more about Purpose, visit their website, purpose boutique.com

Purpose offers styling to everybody. Their educated stylists know body types, brands and fit. Photo courtesy of Purpose Boutique

Purpose founder Christie Johnson opened her first Purpose Boutique in Bremerton in August 2013, combining her lifelong passion for style and fashion with her love for people and created a boutique that people would love, all while giving to those in need. Photo courtesy of Purpose Boutique