A clothing and jewelry store aimed at providing clothes for plus-sized women has reopened in South Milwaukee

SistaSista Clothing and Jewelry is taking a second shot on South Milwaukee — this time as part of the city’s downtown strip at 916 Milwaukee Ave.

When owner Andrea Skys, a South Milwaukee resident, closed her hometown women’s clothing store at 2412 10th Ave. in December 2021 after about a year in business, tears were shed.

“We loved to be out in South Milwaukee, we live there, and our kids go to school there,” she said. “We wanted to be there long-term, but it didn’t work out with the landlord. We never wanted to leave South Milwaukee; it was our last resort.”

Skys said she had tears of joy when she announced the Oct. 22 grand re-opening. Many local businesses shared the news on social media, welcoming Skys back to her hometown. Residents also reached out, excited for her return.

“You can’t find that everywhere,” Skys said.

She said the city was also very helpful, specifically Assistant City Administrator and Economic Development Director Patrick Brever, in making this location a reality. A location Skys said she tried to rent two years ago.

“(Patrick) took it to be as important to him as it is to me and made it happen,” Skys said.

The grand opening will take place at noon with raffles, door prizes and a treat table with refreshments.

Going forward, Skys plans to be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. The store will be closed Sunday and Monday.

Where’d she go after closing in South Milwaukee?

After closing, Skys wanted to stay relevant and as a member of MKE Black she participated in pop-up events outside the Fiserv Forum. MKE Black is a non-profit providing a directory of Black-owned businesses in the Milwaukee area.

In April 2022, she moved into a space at The Collective Marketplace in Glendale — a seller space where the owner “pulled unique business owners and entrepreneurs under one roof,” Skys said.

“(At The Collective Marketplace) you don’t have to physically be there,” she said, comparing it to a manned kiosk. “I just have to keep changing out inventory.”

Skys also found space in the Clock Tower Building at 2266 N. Prospect Ave. in Milwaukee that same month. She is keeping all three locations open.

“We’re pretty much the same,” skys said of her new hometown location. “We want plus-sized women to have a different mindset — to feel comfortable in their skin.”

The beginnings of SistaSista

Her experience working with clothes at Target and a desire to help plus-sized women “feel sexy” and that “they are enough” as they are led Skys to start selling at vendor events in 2018. She opened her first location near Brady Street in Milwaukee in 2019.

While there, Skys said she watched long-term businesses shut down due to the pandemic.

“I’m grateful, so grateful God allowed us to stay open,” she said.

Her faith and family helped her persevere and the support was a motivator. “If I fail, my family fails,” Skys said.

Skys is also giving back to the community. She focuses on hiring people from the communities where she has stores. She also offers a “back to work program” where moms going back into the workforce can get brand new clothes for free with proof of an upcoming interview.

“They’re your clothes,” Skys said.

Offerings and pricing

SistaSista Clothing and Jewelry sells clothing for women ranging from small to 4XL and children sizes newborn to 14. Skys also sells stainless steel hypoallergenic earrings, necklaces and bracelets she designed which is, “a passion that turned into a dream.”

She is hoping to add men’s products like beard oil, watches and more, eventually selling an entire men’s line.

Prices start around $5 and go up to $60 for everything from everyday wear to business attire. Skys is working with a vendor to add formal wear to her shelves.

“We want to make sure we get a good price so we can sell it for a good price,” she said.

Skys purchases her inventory from wholesalers with one of her biggest sources being LA Showroom, a collection of fashion designers, manufacturers and distributors in California. Skys orders samples before making a full line purchase.

“We make sure that we buy quality clothing,” she said.

While she is still working as an operation pharmacy manager, Skys hopes to one day make SistaSista Clothing and Jewelry her full-time job.

If it happens, she said it’ll be “through God’s grace.”

For more information, visit www.sistasistaclothingandjewelryshop.com.

Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page and follow him on Twitter at @ES_Hanley.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: SistaSista Clothing and Jewelry to reopen in South Milwaukee