Looking ahead to 2022, Kharysa Seward was thinking about how she could make the upcoming year better than the last.

That is when she decided to ask her sister DeLainey O’Neill if she wanted to work on a project with her.

They talked about coming up with a beauty brand and experimented with making lotions for hours and hours, Seward said.

“It didn’t go well,” O’Neill said.

“We blew up bowls, it was a mess,” Seward said. So, they decided to explore other options in business.

Meanwhile, their sister-in-law Ashley Mullis said she wanted in, too.

They already had a name for their business — Sora Binti — that they had picked out before they decided which avenue to explore.

“Sora” means sisters in Romanian and “Binti” means daughters in Swahili.

After a few months of talking and planning, an idea started to take shape and eventually they landed on opening a boutique. The boutique would offer not only clothing, but accessories, gifts and more.

Sora Binti opened in Franklin Square on July 1.

Seward said they knew that there were several places in Nashville who sell similar items, so they wanted to find ways they could make it different. A lot goes into learning how to stand out and be different including traveling to a fashion show in Nashville, Tennessee and speaking with vendors to get inspiration, O’Neill said.

The three ladies bring their own flare to the inventory they carry, which is small but diverse, Seward said.

Urban, bohemian, modern, Western, neutral and trendy colors hang from the racks in the shop.

“We like variety,” Seward said.

They carry sizes from extra small up to 3X.

Other than clothing, customers can also purchase jewelry, sunglasses, mugs, keychains and fragrances.

“From the very beginning I wanted it to be a place where I could go in and buy a birthday present for a sister or friend,” Seward said.

Sora Binti carries a lot of items that Seward said are from other small businesses with a good backstory.

One is sister-owned Freshwater Design Co., where they purchased handmade leather items like keychains, wine tags and earrings. Another is Diff, an eyewear line that provides free eye exams, readers and even surgery to those in need. Hyde Alchemy is a fragrance line made by a woman and her husband in Fort Wayne, developed because she herself could not wear perfumes without getting a headache. She’s also a full-time hairstylist and mother.

“We try to have something for everyone,” Seward said.

They also plan on starting a website soon, but for now they are on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

The trio were all born and raised in Brown County, working together at Bean Blossom Animal Clinic before they started up shop. The animal clinic is where the sisters met Mullis. They introduced Mullis to their brother and the two eventually married.

The boutique is not their only focus. Mullis works as a United States postal carrier, O’Neill works at an animal clinic in Martinsville then she and Seward both help out at Brozinni’s Pizzeria. Seward is married to Ryan, who opened and owns the local restaurant.

Seward said she wanted to have a flower shop years ago, but moved past that idea. Shifting gears, she and her sisters have found something into which they can bring their ideas and goals.

“I never thought for sure I would do anything,” she said. “But being in a tourist town, we had the ability to come up with something. It seemed silly not to try.”

Sora Binti Boutique

Location: 69 W. Franklin St., unit 10

Phone: 812-375-4475

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: sorabintiboutique

Instagram: @sora.binti.boutique

Tiktok: @www.sorabinti.com

Hours: Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.