When I walked into Gossypia to chat with the owner, Amanda Lasker, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I found the name “Gossypia” a bit different for a store and didn’t know what the name meant or referred to.  Was it a play on words having to do with “gossip?” What I did find was an interesting array of clothing, art and jewelry that I hadn’t seen anywhere else and in some circles, if you were to wear or buy these items, it would surely lead to good “gossip” for the purchaser.  You would be the talk of the town.  

Lasker has operated a business on Cameron Street in Old Town for at least forty years. She describes Gossypia as a source for these types of items:  Latin American folk art, “arty clothing,” one of a kind jewelry and also a surprise item that I will talk about later. Not only does Lasker own and operate a business in Old Town, but she also lives in Alexandria, near Mt. Vernon.     
     
First things first--  What is the significance of the title of the store?  The name “Gossypia” comes from the name of the cotton plantation where Amanda grew up in Louisiana.  Lasker is a native of the Mississippi Delta region in northern Louisiana.   Since her childhood home had cotton on the premises, she also chose the name because she sold clothing with all natural fibers.  

During high school and college, Amanda spent a considerable amount of time living abroad which contributes to her affinity for travel and a love of other cultures.  She lived in Switzerland and France.  After college, she moved to New York and served as a guide at the United Nations.  In terms of the Latin American influence, she said that she has lived and worked in the region.  She lived in Mexico at various times and her family lived in Guatemala at one time.  


With all of this international travel—how did she land in Alexandria? A big reason.  Love.   This is the area where her then soon-to-be husband is from.  She has come to love Alexandria and said that it reminds her of the small town she grew up in Louisiana.   She has been married for 42 years and has two children and one grandchild.  

Many of Gossypia’s wares are imported from Mexico and Central America.  Clothing remains her biggest seller.  However, around the time of the holidays, her biggest sellers are her nativity scenes.  She has nativity scenes from places such as Latin American and Africa.  Her items commemorating the Mexican holiday, the Day of the Dead, are also big sellers as well.  Surprisingly, men are the largest purchasers of the Day of the Dead items and the nativity scenes. I also spied a lot of items with Frida Kahlo’s image on them.  Amanda referred to those items as “Frida Mania.”  Many customers clamor for items with Kahlos’ image.

Aside from the art and clothing, Gossypia also carries an array of unique pieces of jewelry.  She has unique turquoise jewelry for sale by a designer called Federico.  She also acquires a lot of her jewelry from Israel which is a growing center for artistic jewelry.  She has a huge selection of earrings.      

Aside from being a business proprietor, Lasker’s big interest is traveling. She likes to travel to places off the beaten path—places that others would describe as “third world.”  She likes traveling to places in Latin America, the Far East and Africa.  Most recently, she and her husband traveled to Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.  During that trip, she recalled that the most interesting part of the excursion was visiting Angkor Wat in Cambodia which is a temple that was built early in the 12th century.  This temple is the country’s prime attraction for visitors and has become a symbol for Cambodia.  Next year, she has ambitions plans to travel to Africa and the Far East.  

Locally, she is also active in her community and raises money for local organizations.  She has been active in fundraising campaigns for Alexandria INOVA Hospital and was part of an effort to raise money for the TWIG Pavilion at the hospital,  which is sixteen-bed single patient unit.  

Over her forty years in Old Town, Amanda has witnessed many changes come to Old Town.  Like an old pro looking at the new kids on the block, Amanda looks back at her time in Old Town with a wistful eye toward the past and a hopeful eye toward the future.  She recalled both the positive and negative changes in Old Town.  She noted that there is increased congestion and possibly a loss of small town appeal that has occurred.  But, she has also noticed that Old Town has gained a more cosmopolitan feeling and become more nationally known.   To her, a key factor in Old Town’s success is if it can manage to keep its individualism.  

She got a twinkle in her eye when she boastfully remarked that the best thing about Old Town is the Torpedo Factory.  As she put it, the Torpedo Factory is a complement to Gossypia as both businesses feature hand-made art work.  Gossypia carries art that is made by hand usually by someone in another country and the Torpedo Factory has artisans in house.  She said that a place such as the Torpedo Factory doesn’t exist anywhere else in the United States which is a plus for Old Town. She noted that the creation of the Torpedo Factory is a really unique idea and “one of the best things to happen in Old Town.”

Lasker is particularly impressed with what she terms as the “new blood,” a crop of new female entrepreneurs who have opened business in Old Town.  She said that they are “injecting life” into the area and “livened up the town.”   She is grateful for what these new entrepreneurs have done for Old Town.  

Right before I left her shop, I noticed a room upstairs where there were dresses that were all white.  This is the surprise item that I referred to at the beginning of the article.  That could only mean one thing, wedding dresses, but I felt that it couldn’t be wedding dresses in an eclectic folk are shop.  I asked Amanda what the items were and she said that those were wedding dresses indeed.  She calls them “casual wedding dresses” suitable for an outdoor wedding.  The price points were really affordable.  She said that she started off just selling Mexican wedding dresses and now has a selection for a variety of designers.  She also carries mother of the bride dresses as well.

Amanda Lasker is bringing Latin America to Old Town.  You may leave with a paper mache doll from Mexico, a picture of Frida Kahlo, a linen dress for the summer or your wedding dress. There is something for everyone.

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