|
About Us
Vicky Morris-Malvini and sister-in-law, Lisa Morris,
have a contemporary women's boutique in Willow
Glen. Both Vicky and Lisa have roots in the community.
The sister-in-laws opened their first Bella James in
Willow Glen on March 4th, 2006.
The store sells casual clothing, with a few dressy
items, as well as belts, handbags and jewelry. Some of
the vendors that Bella James carries are Free People,
Michael Stars, Hudson, Joe’s Jeans, True Religion,
William Rast, Seven for all Mankind, Citizens of
Humanity, Sanctuary, Laurie B, Testament, Big Buddha,
Melie Bianco.
For Malvini and Morris the opening of Bella James is
a dream realized. Both spent many years working in
retail and fashion. In fact, the two women met
while working at Nordstrom. Vicky is a first generation
Greek-American who grew up in Willow Glen. Her father,
James Morris, owned 3 retail stores in Santa Cruz
County. Like her father, Vicky began working in retail
at fourteen, eventually going to work at Nordstrom where
she became a buyer. As a buyer for 8 years she traveled,
selected merchandise and managed a budget. In 2003,
Vicky and her cousin, Chris McClymont, started a t-shirt
company, TiXi, which is also carried at Bella James.
Lisa, also a successful Nordstrom buyer, won many awards
for her buying talents, including “Buyer of the Year”
which awarded her a trip to Europe.
When Vicky met Lisa in the late 1980’s. Lisa, who was
also a Nordstrom buyer, moved to the Bay Area from
Southern California. The two became friends and Vicky
introduced Lisa to her brother, Ted. Lisa and Ted later
married, making the women sister-in-laws.
Vicky’s husband, Mike Malvini, is the owner of Willow
Glen’s Malvini Tile Company. After she had her 1st
child, Vicky quit her job to focus on raising her
family. When Lisa had her 1st son, she opted for a
career as a job recruiter because she wanted a more
stable work schedule. But fashion remained on the minds
of both women.
The girls named the stores in honor of their family;
Bella from the Malvini’s daughter, Isabella, and James
after Morris’s son, Dimitri (a family name), which is
Greek for James.
|
|
Vicky and Lisa
|
