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• Dandelion aims to be eco-friendly and set fashion trends

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(Catherine Lamy, Buzz Illustrator)

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Dandelion »
Address: 9 E. Taylor St. Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 355-9333
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If green is the new black, Dandelion owner Sara Hudson may very well be the new Anna Wintour of Champaign-Urbana. Hudson, 42, fuses her passion for recycling and being eco-conscious with her firm belief that people should think outside of the mall when dressing themselves at her vintage and used clothing store, Dandelion.

Hudson worked in San Francisco after graduating from UIUC, before owning her own business, but felt claustrophobic doing desk work for non-profit advertising agency.

“I felt like I needed to be outside doing something more hands on,” Hudson said. “I felt a little removed from the causes we were working for.”

The agency worked for causes such as saving the rain forests, sea turtles, and other environmental issues.

Hudson finally decided to take matters into her own hands, literally, by opening Dandelion.

Dandelion is a creature of evolution, having first opened under the name Retro Rocket at First and Chester Streets in 1993. When that space became too crowded, Hudson relocated to Dandelion’s current location at 9 E. Taylor Street in Champaign a year later.

The shop is full of his and her clothing, both vintage and gently used. There’s also a ton of accessories, including jewelry, hats, sunglasses and shoes.

Students from the surrounding area make up a large portion of Hudson’s customers. There are less of them during the summer months, but Dandelion is popular for students looking to dress for themed sorority and fraternity exchanges and Halloween during the academic year. In fact, Halloween is Dandelion’s busiest day.

Also, during the summer, Hudson says she sells more jewelry.

“I feel my duty is to recycle as much clothing as possible,” Hudson explained. “I mean, just look in Champaign-Urbana…think of one store like Old Navy. Think of all the clothes they’re manufacturing and selling to our community. It’s just sell more more more, new, new, new.”

“I’m just trying to reuse what’s already out there,” she said. “I feel like with Dandelion, I can watch that happen. I can make that happen.”