Made in Seattle NorthCountry: Fauxxy Fur

The couple had received word that a throng of women in caftans were going to be buzzing in, bright red wigs of curls atop their heads, bidding each one a hearty “Hello, Helen!” and “Goodbye, Helen!” as they drifted in and out.

The ladies in bright flowing and flowery caftans, big bobbles of costume jewelry draping from ears and wrists, were there for a Mrs. Roper Romp. The flash mob of color and spirited banter is a bar hop that pops up in various towns, all inspired by the indefatigable Helen, wife of the landlord in the 1970s-era Three’s Company television show.

Fauxxy Fur, a shop of handmade hats, feather fringes for modified cowboy boots, vintage World War II woolen military jackets, fur coats unearthed from steamer trunks, isn’t a bar. But it was a destination just the same. The Cashes offered up a little complementary spiced cider as the first stop on the Mrs. Roper Romp for the night.

Jac donned a red wig and, in place of a caftan, a vintage tapestry fabric from the ‘60s, upcycled from a maxi skirt. Jac passed out hugs and cider as the women gathered, lifting hands to feel fabric and admiring the hats.

It’s just what Jac, and her wife Jill, envisioned for their space when they began remodeling the old warehouse on the southern end of Arlington’s Olympic Avenue a year ago.

Well, maybe two dozen women in red wigs and caftans wasn’t part of their vision, but they fit right in, just the same.

Jac and Jill wanted a place to showcase Jac’s art, connect with and create community, and help people feel special.

When they first renovated the 4,000 square foot space, with high ceilings, a skylight, and wood beams, they commissioned a friend and artist to create brackets branded with the Fauxxy Fur logo to hold the rod on which the impossibly-tall library ladder slides from one end of the storefront to the other. The shelving behind it holds rows and rows of hats. All made of natural fibers, Jac creates the hats in the back room where industrial sewing machines, hat forms, and magic are at her disposal.

Their attention to detail is impeccable. Jac has an eye for texture and color. The environs are complete with a jewel-toned mohair couch covered in a sheepskin throw. Across from that is an art deco coffee table, with swing-out drawers that hide barware. Nearby an alpaca throw drapes over a gold, vintage chair. Jac melts into the chair, her own hat tossed on the corner. The fluffy Maltese shop dog inherited from her niece is indistinguishable from the alpaca.

The place smells of sage, leather, oiled wood and wool. It’s a feast for the eyes, with scarves hanging from racks, feather earrings and boot fringes, rows of cowboy boots and stacks of hats of all colors and shapes, created by Jac.

Everything in the shop is available in their online store. But Jac would much rather you make the drive to Arlington. There she can examine your style, your vibe, measure the size of your crown, examine the shape of your noggin’, and find just the right color and shape of hat to make you feel like a million bucks.

Terri Skyles of Stanwood was sitting in the jacquard fitting chair before a tall mirror, waiting for Jac to appear for a fitting. Jac had just completed a hat for Terri that incorporated a special pin from her sister and a scarf that was a gift from her mother. The combination was stunning.

It’s the fourth hat Skyles has purchased from Jac. “Truth be told,” admitted Skyles, “I’m sitting here trying to find out what color will be next.”

When you do stop in this winter you’ll discover a new offering of beverages and provisions, like cheese and sausage. Snacks and special drinks will be tucked into a vintage haberdashery case from the Bloom’s Department store of the early 1900s in Marysville, and an oak ice box, an original piece refurbished in England for modern refrigeration.

Jac loves to combine texture, fur, fluff and finery, to create unexpected combinations that bring the wow factor. Jill is understated. Her dreds hidden beneath a hat Jac made for her, a flannel shirt from an Oregon seamstress, and a pair of boots and jeans suit her best.

Jill is planning two new additions to Fauxxy Fur, putting her own mark on the place. The pair are planning a men’s wear line of clothing, along the lines of the Filson aesthetic, with tailored wool and flannel pieces. There will also be a similar line for women’s clothing. The Oregon line of flannels that Jill wears will be included.

“People leave happy,” said Jac. “It’s easy to take care of people here. With this, I have finally found my community.”