Our Ethos

Hi! I'm Rachel Erdheim, owner and curator of Tigress, an independent women's boutique in Durham, North Carolina. Tigress specializes in sustainable clothing, artisan jewelry, home goods, and unusual gifts—all thoughtfully chosen with an eye toward design, craftsmanship, sustainability, and delight.

I started Tigress with some important benchmarks in mind, revolving around sustainability and regenerative practices. I like to separate my buying strategy into two categories: clothing and everything else.

Clothing

When it comes to clothing, it was important to me from the start that every brand we carry cares deeply about sustainability—from the materials they use to the people who make their clothes.

Our brands—like Bibico, SKFK, Noble, Komodo, Mata Traders, Bel Kazan, and others—are all committed to doing things differently. I'm so joyful that they do the hard work while also designing super-cute, functional clothing, so that I can bring these pieces to you to enjoy and wear for many years to come.

Across our collection, you'll find natural fibers, recycled fabrics, small-batch production, thoughtful sourcing, and brands that take the environmental and human impact of making clothing seriously. Many of our brands work with factories, cooperatives, and makers committed to fair wages and responsible working conditions.

All of this together is no easy feat, but it's part of a serious fashion revolution that says NO to cheap sweatshop clothing made from fossil-fuel-derived fabrics like polyester.

It's also a big NO to greenwashing.

Just because a shop or brand says it's ethical doesn't necessarily mean that it is. And don't just trust me! Take a look at the brands we carry online, and you'll find the transparency you need to learn about their materials, factories, certifications, and practices for yourself.

Everything Else

We also carry a really wide array of gifts, jewelry, home goods, and everything in between. These pieces are chosen with a lot of care—and with Durham in mind.

One of my favorite things to do is support artisans who are carrying heritage crafts into the future. Whether it's jewelry, textiles, ceramics, or decorations, many of these makers draw from cultural traditions and generations of craftsmanship to create something beautiful for today.

There are so many people making interesting things in the world. When I find something that I think you'll enjoy, I grab it so that it's waiting here at Tigress for you to discover and delight in.

That's really the heart of the shop: beautiful things made thoughtfully, chosen thoughtfully, and meant to last.

About Rachel

Design and curation have been lifelong passions of mine. Beginning in third grade, I studied with artist and teacher Marian Osher, from whom I learned how to draw and paint, as well as about positive and negative space, color distribution, composition, and much more.

I later attended the art school at the University of Michigan before transferring to Bard College, where I studied literature and fine art. Growing up in the D.C. area, I was also able to take advantage of the national galleries and folk life festivals. All of this, coupled with growing up in an artistic family, gave me the freedom to explore art and design from many different angles.

And, in my opinion, a shop is a form of experiential art. I bring that philosophy to Tigress—from the clothing and objects I choose to the way they're displayed and brought together in the shop.

Stop by and say hello!