Southwest apparel company hangs up the saddle
Just over 40 years ago, Sylvia Spence left her corporate job in pursuit of her weaving hobby — eventually turning her hobby into a local story of success.
But this week marks the end of Spence’s reign as the head of the Southwest-inspired Silverado Apparel and Home. The business, at 1318 Fourth NW, closes Friday.
Silverado was purchased by a mother and daughter team from Lubbock. In addition to purchasing the brand, the duo is also taking over the various manufacturing machinery, which is relocating to Texas.
Spence said the decision to sell her business and retire was difficult, but she is ready to spend her time in her rose garden with her husband rather than overseeing the business.
“I thought that we’ve set a lot of trends, we’ve really made a statement in terms of fashion, and I’m excited to see someone younger take it over and let’s see what they’re going to do with it,” she said. “... I know that the label has not died, it’s going to live on in a new and exciting way.”
Silverado launched in the early ’80s with just Spence and her sister, Lucille Lawless.
Spence said she operated the loom and her sister worked as the primary seamstress for several years before Spence bought her out of the company.
It didn’t take long for the small operation to grow, and within several years of launching, the small clothing company was selling products in Denver and Dallas.
Spence said the company began to make a line of clothing from Pendleton blankets that proved to be incredibly popular and required the company to find a new, larger headquarters and manufacturing area.
By the late ’90s, the company expanded again, eventually landing at 1318 Fourth NW.
“I remember coming in here and thinking ‘Oh my god, this building is huge,’ because it’s 16,400 square feet,” Spence said. “Well, before you know it, we filled it up. And that’s the location that I’ve been in to this day.”
Spence said it was around this time that the company shifted its focus beyond clothing to also enter the hospitality industry.
“Another direction that we’ve gone in is hospitality,” she said. “And so we have worked with different interior designers to complete projects that use not only just our manufacturing, but our own fabrics.”
Spence said that some of the highlights of her business include being named a Top 25 businesswoman in New Mexico four times, selling her collections in department stores like Dillard’s and Nordstrom and having her clothing on the cover of the Neiman Marcus catalog.
“We really feel very flattered for the recognition and I’ve had quite a crew working with me here all these years,” she said. “It’s pretty amazing.”
The building that housed Silverado for over 20 years will continue to be a center of New Mexican manufacturing.
Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm is relocating its lavender manufacturing facility to the building in order to increase production.
“A project of this magnitude will create a triple benefit — growth of jobs and revenue for Los Poblanos, growth of jobs and revenue for small farms and sustainable food initiatives in our community, and finally, the promotion of the unique culture and stories of the Rio Grande River Valley and the State of New Mexico,” Los Poblanos spokeswoman Lauren Kemner said.
Los Poblanos is also expanding its Farm Foods collection and will eventually add a craft spirits business to the location, Kemner said.
Silverado will operate a small shop at 4401 Cutler NE until June in order to sell off the remaining fabrics, embellishments and garments.
Macy’s opens discount store at Coronado
Macy’s opened a discount store, Macy’s Backstage, on the second floor of its Coronado Center location last week, according to the retailer.
Macy’s Backstage offers discounted merchandise from new and existing brands.
This will be the first Backstage location in New Mexico and will have the 15,700 square feet dedicated to it, according to a Macy’s spokeswoman.
“Customers can currently expect to find trends like must-have denim, backpacks, seasonal looks, home office décor, face masks and hand sanitizer,” she wrote.
Backstage locations participate in the Star Rewards program and Macy’s credits cards are accepted.
Macy’s Backstage is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 6600 Menaul NE.