The Shop
Clean, bright, and at the intersection of minimalist aesthetics and maximalist comfort, Faraways Boutique on Orcas Island is a family-owned and -operated business serving locals and visitors alike. Faraways provides fashionable clothing, accessories, body care, and home goods year-round, seven days a week. It was founded by Owner Elizabeth Colman-Schermerhorn and her mother, Carol McKinstry, over 22 years ago.
Photo courtesy of Faraways Boutique
Photo courtesy of Faraways Boutique
The Atmosphere
“I treat everybody like family. My mom taught me that,” says Elizabeth. “When we opened the store, we had this concept that it was an extension of our home, that everybody that came in would be coming into our house.”
The store’s mosaic of white, black, and neutral colors creates a relaxed atmosphere. Beautiful displays line the walls and counters, and everywhere you look is something new to find. Elizabeth now runs the store with her adult child, Isabella Schemerhorn. Together, they provide warm hospitality and work to create an environment where everyone can feel seen and appreciated.
“We want to live in a world and community where people are free to be their truest selves. As a partially queer-owned business, it’s important to us that we create a safe and welcoming environment to all of our customers! We also strive to cultivate a body positive beauty culture, and we strive to amplify and uplift BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ equity and liberation,” they both say.
Key People
Although Faraways unfortunately lost its founding matriarch three years ago, her presence can still be felt in the store.
“For 16 years, I made almost all the jewelry in the store… And then about a year and a half ago, we started designing and manufacturing,” says Elizabeth. “[Our jewelry line] is called GOLD RAE, and I actually named that after my mom. Her middle name is Rae. I like to think of her as a golden ray shining down on us.”
Isabella, Elizabeth, and her husband George Schemerhorn keep the family business going strong. Elizabeth dedicates herself to keeping the quality high and prices low, and always being there for her customers. Isabella has grown into a focus on creative merchandising, social media marketing, and photography for the shop.
Photo courtesy of Faraways Boutique
Photo courtesy of Faraways Boutique
What You’ll Find
“My mom and I had this vision of having neutral colors, timeless basics, things like the perfect black dress or the perfect t-shirt,” says Elizabeth. She aims to carry ethically sourced and produced goods from small, women owned businesses, and is especially fond of natural fibers like cashmere, wool, and cotton.
On top of a capsule wardrobe worthy assortment of clothes, you can find jewelry, hair clips, purses and bags, perfumes, lotions, body scrubbers and massagers, candles, home decor, chocolates, stationery, and much more.
Elizabeth also makes sure to keep things exciting! Sales racks outside the shop boast items for only $29 or $39, and there are large and small mystery bags with categories like clothes, home goods, or self-care. Inside of two small mystery bags, I found a soft kitchen towel, a package of daily affirmations, a jade roller, and a bundle of sage.
Favorites
“There’s so many things I love, and you know, it’s probably because I put them all out,” laughs Elizabeth. She was able to narrow it down to two shout-outs—Isla by Makana, which she carries as both a perfume and candles, and a black linen dress from LEA & LUC, a French company that provides Italian linen and cashmere garments.
Photo courtesy of Faraways Boutique
For their favorites, Isabella names “anything from our cashmere line and SopranoLabs RED ROSE Vegan Perfume Oil!” 123 N. Beach Rd., Ste. C, Eastsound, shopfarawaysboutique.com
