About Aviara & Co
Aviara & Co is a women's clothing boutique built around a simple promise: pieces made for effortless comfort and clean, modern style. It runs online and through pop-ups rather than a storefront, which is how co-founders Leann Coleman-Waters and Kim, the company's CEO, wanted it.
The two have been friends for more than fifteen years, and the boutique started the way a lot of good ideas do, in a late conversation at Leann's house about what would actually make them happy. The answer came fast. Both had spent years struggling to find pieces they loved at the boutiques they shopped, so they decided to fill that gap themselves. A little over four months later, Aviara was open.
What You Get
| What You Get | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Feminine, modern, timeless clothing | Selected for quality materials and cuts meant to feel good, not just photograph well. |
| A USA-made staple line | Women designed and women owned, and the pieces the founders point to first. |
| Event-exclusive collections | Curated for the events they attend, including Ballantyne Country Club, and not sold online. |
| Member styling appointments | Offered to Ballantyne Country Club members who want them. |
| Free local delivery to the club | No shipping charge for members. |
Meet Leann Coleman-Waters
Leann grew up in Hampton, Virginia, a military town where friends moved constantly and making new ones became second nature. A job offer brought her to Charlotte before her senior year of college, to a city she had never seen and where she knew no one. She finished her bachelor's online a year later and never left. This September marks eighteen years here.
Her partner in the business, Kim, is the co-founder and CEO, and the two met shortly after Leann arrived in Charlotte. Where Leann's background is operational efficiency and helping small businesses grow, Kim's is fashion and retail.
The buying is deliberate. Aviara sources from a mix of vendors, with a preference for ones practicing sustainably and willing to have a real conversation when something needs to change. The moment Leann names as her proudest came shortly after the online launch, when a customer called and said she felt seen, that the store had put together pieces and outfits that made sense for her.
In Their Words
Leann's advice to shoppers runs against the impulse buy: be intentional. Ask what a piece will actually do in your wardrobe, whether it is versatile or meant for one occasion, and how many ways you can wear it. Both answers are fine. The point is knowing which one you are buying.
Explore More on Strolling Ballantyne
- Shop and dine local in Local Business
- See what is on this month in Living
- Meet your neighbors in Neighbors
Aviara & Co is a Strolling Ballantyne Preferred Partner. This profile was prepared from the business's own Partner Spotlight submission.