From Cecile Oreste at danceDC

This weekend marks the two-year anniversary of Rue 14 located on 14th St. NW, just north of S St.. Owners Andrew Nguyen and Jiwon Paik-Nguyen plan to celebrate in style with champagne and cupcakes from Iza Cupcake — as well as a three-day sale.

Despite starting a new business during the troubled times of the recession, Rue 14 has been growing consistently since it opened and the Nguyens hope to expand their product offerings and eventually find a larger space.

I recently met up with Jiwon to talk about the business of fashion and to learn more about the men’s and women’s clothing boutique.

Borderstan: You and Andrew previously worked in New York for famous brands like Brooks Brothers and Ralph Lauren. What brought you to the District?

Jiwon: There is more opportunity in DC as there are not a lot of boutiques in the area. We wanted to bring a fresh, new store to DC that felt very local and not commercial. Our vision for the store was to recreate cool boutiques in New York City by offering a mix of well-known and up-and-coming designers.

We’re always on the lookout for something new and interesting. The style is forward thinking, not too cutting edge, but also not too conservative.

Borderstan: What made you choose 14th St.-Logan Circle for the location of your boutique?

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