At this Alabama boutique, kindness, respect, and understanding are always in style.
The proprietor of Wonderfully Made Clothing Company laughs recalling her mother’s quip upon surveying the brick-and-mortar boutique in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for the first time: “You do know I can’t buy all this inventory, right?” Andrea Edmonds, who says she is not a natural salesperson, admits that when she was a little girl, her parents had to buy all the sundry items peddled in elementary school fundraisers because she could not bring herself to ask anyone to make a purchase.
Given this early reluctance, it may seem surprising that Andrea now stewards a flourishing boutique, but welcoming her third child began an unexpected journey that pushed the newly christened mommy of three to step out in faith. “My arms were shaking as they gave her to me, but as I held her tightly, I realized that even with a Down syndrome diagnosis, our baby girl was perfect,” she says. “While looking into Ruthie’s perfectly created almond-shaped eyes, I thought of Psalm 139:14, ‘I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.’”
As Ruthie grew up, finding clothing became a challenge, as the tween brands she favored did not offer inclusive sizing. This prompted Andrea to approach friends in the design department at The University of Alabama with the aim of creating patterns to fit and flatter a variety of shapes. The effort took off, leading to three years of producing custom garments promoted in small-batch releases. The label soon gained national acclaim, with the Seattle Girls Choir in Seattle, Washington, ordering dresses, thanks to the range of sizes available.
Although Andrea still has the patterns developed during that time, in more recent years, her focus has shifted to ready-to-wear styles, showcased in the retail space she opened in 2020. “I’ve been that mom who has gone into stores and not been able to find anything on the racks,” she says. Today, she goes to market with specific clients in mind—in addition to original muse Ruthie, she mentions the Southern lady in her eighties, the professional in her thirties, and the midlife mother adjusting to a changing body. Whatever the season of life, she strives to meet it with classic, feminine, and on-trend fashions, adding, “I always want women to feel seen.”
With both a storefront and an online shop, Wonderfully Made Clothing Co. holds an array of attire, shoes, and accessories. But more dear to Andrea than any material good is the actual good that has come from the business. “Although we have a small space, it’s like another home to me,” she shares. “Every day we open the doors, I feel like we’re welcoming guests.” These relationships extend to the university, where one of her most meaningful opportunities is supporting CrossingPoints, a program providing transitional services and vocational training for college-age students with disabilities. Proceeds from the business, along with gifts from family and friends, have fully endowed a scholarship named in honor of Ruthie.
Andrea’s latest endeavor, also funded by the boutique, is You Are Wonderfully Made, a Bible study series for young people with cognitive challenges. She says this project—written by Andrea, featuring artwork by Holly Hollon, and encompassing an array of resources—was inspired by her daughter: “She was also created with a deep longing in her soul to know God.” Andrea hopes to foster a loving, spiritual, and service-oriented community for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Looking to the New Year, she encourages others to pursue their dreams. She says it is easy to falter when the calling feels too big, but she urges women to press on, realizing that even baby steps represent progress toward the goal. “If there is something God has placed on your heart,” Andrea says, “don’t give up before you even get started. Look for the Lord’s hand and see what He has for you on that day.”
Text Melissa Lester
Photography April Whinery Photography
Find more inspiring stories in our January/February 2026 issue, available on local newsstands or in our online shop.
