Hi there! We are so excited to be starting our very own Cotton Island Blog!
Here’s a little background on who we are, how we got here and what we do:
My name is Lauren and I am the daughter of Jeff and Patty Feinstein. My parents have owned and operated Cotton Island since we first opened our doors in 1983. Cotton Island is older than I am! From taking naps on the couch as a little girl and stickering the hangers in elementary school to managing and buying for our two stores, I have literally grown up with our boutique. It truly is my home away from home!
My father, Jeff, was a huge part of making Cotton Island so popular in our little neighborhood. His success began in the 70’s when he opened a well-known boutique in Houston named Tootsies. Back then, he and his partner sold apparel for both men and women. Their concept generated a lot of buzz in the Montrose area, even garnering attention of some famous shoppers like Steven Tyler and Jack Nicholson! (Rumor has it that Tyler shopped the women’s section, too!) Eventually, he and his partner went their separate ways and Jeff focused his talents and energy on a new business venture: a women’s clothing and accessory store with a unique vibe and family driven atmosphere. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2008 but we keep him in our hearts always. Our popular Cotton Island tees honor him with a little heart and his initials at the bottom. Each year we donate to the American Heart Association in his memory.
Our original location is in a 2400 square foot renovated gas station that has remained the same inside since its Grand Opening in 1983. If you’ve ever been inside, it still smells of Patchouli! In 2002, we opened our doors in Plano. Both our stores carry much of the same merchandise, but each have their own little flare. We have seen so many trends come and go over the years- from Madonna inspired jewelry in the 80’s and True Religion Jeans in the 90’s to the Von Deutsch trucker hats and bedazzled jackets in the 2000’s. We’re proud to be amongst the first to carry big brands such as Free People, Steve Madden, Sam Edelman, and Kendra Scott! We also love to support our local artisans and are among the first to carry jewelry by designer Sarah Briggs! We’ve even carried Birkenstock back when they were cool, and then uncool, and now cool again!
My mother, Patty, is one of our greatest assets! She tirelessly searches for unique and interesting pieces to add to our selection and is responsible for finding all the incredible jewelry we sell! We also have an amazing team of girls, some of whom have been with us since the very beginning! We truly couldn’t do this without them. Their different backgrounds and perspectives each bring a unique addition to our Cotton Island family. Sheila Harris has shared her talents and creativity with us from the start! We’ve had many Cotton Island girls through the years, and several have returned to us when their journeys bring them back to the DFW area. I think if you were to ask any of them what makes this place so special, they’d likely say it’s impossible to stay away because it’s a wonderful place in the universe!
Today, we are a mother/daughter duo catering to our Highland Park & Plano neighborhood moms and daughters! We are just regular people looking for comfortable and amazing quality clothing that won’t break your pocketbook. It can be challenging to keep up with the ever-changing Dallas trends, but we absolutely love what we do and take it very seriously. That means searching the markets and hand picking the best of the best styles and trends so we can guarantee quality for our customers. Cute and comfortable is an unbeatable combination and we strive to curate a collection that will make our customers look and feel amazing!