| The Collective, A Lifestyle Boutique and Makery is a brick and mortar based in the heart of charming downtown Lisle. In the boutique, over 85% of the thoughtfully curated goods are woman owned brands and 30% give back to charitable causes that support veterans, women and children. The Collective offers creative workshops and experiences to the public and private events. Founded in June 2017, The Collective is the only black woman owned brick and mortar from Oak Park to Aurora. In 2018, The Collective won, "Best New Gift Shop" from West Suburban Living Magazine and was featured on ABC Chicago, in Glancer and Main & Luxe magazines.
The founder and owner, Autumn Geist is a 30 year resident of Lisle, and has been an active volunteer and community organizer for over 25 years. Autumn has served as President of Lisle Community Character Alliance, Lisle Home & School Parent Association, and NCO Youth & Family Services, where she took pride in mentoring teen mothers. Autumn has also been elected as Lisle Township Trustee by her community, the first black person elected to this role. Autumn consistently champions for her community in big and small ways and it has crossed over into The Collective, where she is committed to providing a space to shop inspired and create in community.
Autumn thoroughly enjoys reading about strong women and empowering them. After reading, The Red Tent by Anita Diamonte, which is about women caring for each other in the tent, despite the outside strifes that may exist, Autumn wanted to create a similar space for our modern times. A space where women felt empowered when they walked in the door by shopping or creating, always feeling like they are part of something more than a gift shop.
In 2020 when the pandemic hit, the Collective had been opened just under 3 years and Autumn faced numerous challenges. The Collective, known for a creative space for people to come shop and create became difficult while having to social distance and stay healthy. However, she forged through by increasing her online presence, offering curbside pickup, free delivery, Instagram LIVE sessions and Zoom workshops to stay connected. Autumn deeply believes in relationship based experiences, leaning into this has helped The Collective to change consumer shopping habits.
In addition to offering curated goods and experiences, The Collective is a community hub for philanthropic efforts. Including coat, food and period insecurity donation drives. An on-going project that she is very proud of is the, Cross Her Heart project. Cross Her Heart is a collaboration with LeeAnn MGrath, who is the founder of Sharing Connections (www.sharingconnections.org). LeeAnn upcycles upholstery fabric remnants into cross body bags/purses. The Collectives is proud of the generous customers that donate the contents, such as personal hygiene care items, notebooks, and pens. The bags are donated to various organizations and free clinics throughout Chicagoland for women in crisis. The Collective is also a huge supporter of home and school organizations and non-profits. It is common to find The Collective donating experiences for fundraisers to support these groups. In addition, kick back shop nights are another way she gives back to community.
She is adamant that our readers understand that The Collective is more than a gift shop. It is community resource for thoughtfully curated products, creative experiences and making a difference in and outside of Lisle. And she impressed the importance of supporting small and local when you can.
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