Avant-garde. Provoking. Inclusive. Three words to describe ANT/DOTE, Midtown Atlanta’s high-Fashion shopping experience. And yes, that’s Fashion with a capital “F.” A Georgia native and Atlanta resident since 1998, founder Lauren Amos knows the local art and fashion scene inside and out, so she recognized a hole in the market. She set out to make the bold, boundary-pushing fashion she sees on the runway available locally, and ANT/DOTE was born. Read our Q&A to get to know Lauren and snag an inside look at the ANT/DOTE experience.
Tell us about the journey of developing ANT/DOTE Atlanta, including the inspiration for the brand name!
ANT/DOTE was a dream of mine for over 10 years … I wanted to create a space for people who loved fashion the same way that I do, where they could spend time, shop, have friends in the people who work there, and just be inspired.
I always wanted to have a place to shop in Atlanta that had the pieces I saw walk down the runway during the fashion weeks — and I mean pieces you couldn’t even find in New York or L.A. Even with the shopping scene in Atlanta growing so fast and so many amazing brands opening their doors in the market, I still felt like Atlanta needed something more — something willing to push the boundaries of style, unafraid of being out of the box, and something selling Fashion with a capital “F.” So, ANT/DOTE is the remedy to that.
The shop is in a standalone building in Midtown. What drew you to that location?
The building had history. I really wanted a building with history and beauty, and it was hard to find one that had both and could also support the retail component. I literally drove past the building while scouting for places, and when I learned that this building also came with land, I knew it was the one. I knew that this was the perfect home for ANT/DOTE and that this land would give me the opportunity to create my own universe for ANT/DOTE and beyond.
What can shoppers expect from an ANT/DOTE shopping experience?
The shopping experience at ANT/DOTE was a very important factor that I wanted to make sure we had the best people in place to support. The team I have in the store eats, lives, and breathes fashion, and that is conveyed to our clients in every interaction. The shopping experience is relaxed, informative, welcoming, and inspiring.
It is an experience that whether you are a SCAD student, first-time shopper, or regular client of the shop, everyone gets that same level of service, knowledge, and excitement. ANT/DOTE was created for fashion fans by fashion fans.
Which trends are you most excited about for 2024?
Black was everywhere on Runway. I love wearing black because it is empowering. I always love clothing that takes up physical and emotional space, and I saw many. My favorite sculptural silhouettes came from Rick Owens and Melitta Baumeister. Lastly, I’m excited for fun proportions. I loved the crazy high-waisted pants at Loewe.
And which recent trends (if any) are you excited to see gone for good?
It is time to focus on what’s good in the world. I just want to see people expressing themselves. However that looks on each individual.
ANT/DOTE isn’t your first retail business — you also founded Wish ATL. Tell us about that.
Wish was my first experience in retail. I was young and unstoppable. I kept pushing forward despite being a woman in a male-dominated industry. In the beginning, Wish sold sneakers, Japanese and New York streetwear brands, ready-to-wear, and design pieces. It helped me grow and taught me quickly that I will never know everything.
I wanted to sell high-end ready-to-wear and the things that I really loved at Wish, and I tried, but it didn’t work. It was not the right time for me back then, but it planted the seeds in me for ANT/DOTE, and everything I learned through Wish prepared me to start ANT/DOTE when the time was right; I am thankful for that.
What has been the greatest challenge you’ve encountered as an entrepreneur?
Being comfortable with continuous change. Through the buildout of ANT/DOTE, I was handed change orders daily, and I very quickly learned that I could not have everything I wanted the way I wanted it and that if these doors were going to open, I was going to have to pivot. There were countless changes I had to make, and many of them were not what I wanted, but I had to embrace the change, sign off on the change order, and move on.
What are your current favorite sources of inspiration?
My many inspirations include trips to Iceland and Los Angeles, Iris Van Herpen’s exhibit at MAD Paris, Sarah Lucas’s exhibit at Tate Britain, Red Ri Chine Yuansu Series II, Tracey Emin Lover’s Grace at White Cube, and the book Mathematics + Art by Lynn Gamwell.
What are your favorite places to eat, drink, and shop in Atlanta?
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, and from whom?
My father taught me that if you aren’t hearing the word “no” often, you are not trying hard enough and that no good decision is made in the moment. Sleep on it. You can never risk a lot for a little.
Aside from faith, family, and friends, name three things you can’t live without.
Candy, my cats, and travel.
The next time you’re in the Atlanta area, stop into ANT/DOTE for a little retail therapy — or just an inspiring escape.
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