Written by Jeliel Brown
Photographed by Chloee Blair
The Golden Gypsy – a dreamy, boho two-story boutique on Cuna Street – pulls people to its porch with its Moroccan skirts, unique jewelry, bold art and laid-back, come-as-you-are style.
“My desire [has been] to...showcase artists and designers from around the world who wouldn’t necessarily have the platform that we’re able to offer,” owner Jason Relph says about the carvings, jewelry and clothing he's brought back from as far as Turkey and Morocco.
In the sun-baked deserts of Namibia, he came across delicate crystals from Khoisan communities located hundreds of miles from conventional stores.
"When I go those routes, I actually load up the truck with non-perishable foods, because that's more desirable than money,” he explains.
During Relph’s nomadic upbringing, which included frequent moves and travel for school, he collected unique, handmade pieces that later inspired The Golden Gypsy.
"I think one of the greatest joys of the business...is the relationships I've been able to foster over a decade," Relph says. "When I go to some of these places, it feels like I'm visiting family."
After attending Flagler College, he delved into home décor design, as well as crafting furniture from reclaimed wood discovered on travels to forested regions, which he created with "the ethos of sustainability."
"When I first started the store, I knew my creative juices flowed," he says. After a childhood spent designing clothes with his mother, he eventually discovered “that clothing and material [are] one of those areas for me to play in,” and broadened his store to include his creative clothing designs.
"My hope is that simply entering the store is an experience in and of itself,” Relph, a self-described “experiential artist,” explains.
An experience which, according to Relph, is generally more inclusive for customers of various shapes and sizes, like some he remembers leaving in tears of appreciation for the rare positive shopping experience of finding wearable garments.
"When people walk in, they see [the store] as a spiritual expression, which I think is really beautiful.”
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