The Bellevue Collection Welcomes Proto101, a New Sustainable Clothing Brand in Downtown
June 20, 2023 - by Sandy Vo
The Bellevue Collection Welcomes Proto101, a New Sustainable Clothing Brand in Downtown
On the second floor of Bellevue Square lies a new 1,780 square foot store ready to be explored. Proto101 is a Seattle-based clothing retailer bringing sustainable and ethically made garments that offers a better alternative to disposable “fast” fashion by sourcing sustainable fabrics and supporting an ethical supply chain. Jennifer Leavitt, vice president of marketing at The Bellevue Collection, sees the opening of Proto101 as an opportunity to align the shopping center with a vision for bettering the planet.
“Proto101 introduces a new, forward-thinking philosophy to basic garments that are well-suited for shoppers seeking contemporary, modern, and meaningful apparel,” Leavitt said. “Alongside our shopping center’s current and new roster of shops, we know Proto101’s flagship store will grow its fan base given the success other retailers have seen here.”
Proto101 brings a selection of garments – tees, sweatshirts, shorts, plants, jackets, dresses – all under $100 using fabric from the highest quality raw materials. Fabrics are thoughtfully engineered with an innovative blend of Supima Cotton and Tencel, to feature both stretch and structure, performance wicking, and long-lasting utility.
For each garment sold, the retailer plants one tree. In 2022, Proto101 planted 20,000 trees, removing 440,000 pounds of carbon dioxide. The company also seeks out sustainable partnerships and sells local, eco-friendly brands such as Arvin Goods, Boejack Designs and handmade la conner in store. Liyin Kok, co-founder of Proto101, said they strive to build a better planet by starting with the basics, and look forward to bringing their thoughtful approach to clothing to Bellevue.
“The Bellevue Collection has an inspiring group of brands we are excited to grow with. Our first location in downtown Seattle has earned us a loyal customer base and we are grateful to expand to the Eastside community as a Pacific Northwest-based company,” Kok said.
Proto101 is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. It is located at 575 Bellevue Square, Bellevue, WA on the second floor of the shopping center near Macy’s.
This blog is part of the Heart of Bellevue: our campaign to showcase local businesses while connecting you with stories of activity, creativity and recovery. Find out about our campaign and explore more of what’s happening around Downtown.
SIGN UP FOR THE HEART OF BELLEVUE NEWSLETTER
Proto101
272 Bellevue Square Level 2
Bellevue, WA 98004
