MELAS Clothing Co.

A downtown Longview women's boutique stocked with pieces you won't find at the mall. Owner Abigail Martinez started MELAS selling at First Monday Trade Days in Canton, then opened a brick-and-mortar on East Tyler Street as demand grew. The racks lean high-fashion, with plenty imported from Mexico — hand-painted purses made from recycled leather, handmade jewelry and belts, loungewear, and dressier pieces for showers and weddings. The store's name is built from letters in the names of women who mattered to her.