New Clothing Store Opens in Malden

N-ti Boutique, known for selling Islamic clothing for women, opened its doors to customers on Saturday in Malden, according to owner Halima Benmansour. 

Roughly 50 people visited N-ti, located at 39 Lebanon St., during the store's Sept. 21 opening, according to Benmansour. Due to some obstacles along the way, N-ti wasn't able to open in August as they had hoped to, but Benmansour was pleased to have the store open after working on the project for about a year.

"(Opening a boutique) was an idea and then I said 'OK, I think we need this because we don't have one here,'" she said. "I think a nice high-end store for conservative women would be just great and it's great how everything has come together."

Benmansour said N-ti is a member of the Malden Chamber of Commerce, adding that she had some mentors from the chamber who helped guide her on how to open a store in the city. She also noted how city officials were helpful during the entire process.

With the opening of the 1,100-square-foot Malden store, Benmansour said it is the first N-ti location in the state, as well as America. N-ti's headquarters are in Montreal, while the other store is in Toronto. 

Benmansour, of Malden, expects to hire a couple full-and-part-time staff in the coming weeks. 

N-ti sells a variety of clothing and accessories, including jewelry, skirts, scarfs and tunics, that range in price from $1 to $85, according to Benmansour. For those wishing to try on clothing, there are three changing rooms located in the back of the store, including one that is handicapped accessible.

A grand opening for the store is set for 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, according to Benmansour, as Mayor Gary Christenson and others will be in attendance for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Benmansour anticipates having Henna tattoos, refreshments, music, demonstrations and gifts for the first 25 women to visit the storefront that day.

Malika MacDonald, of Everett, was one of the first women to purchase clothing at the newest N-ti location on Saturday and happened to be donning that attire during her visit to the store on Tuesday afternoon.

"It was really wonderful to walk in and see the finished store," MacDonald said. "It surprised me because it's really a high-end boutique like you'd see on Newbury Street, and I spent many years living in New York and to have something of this level here in Malden is spectacular."

MacDonald was also impressed with how the modern and sophisticated clothing offered at N-ti can compliment any woman's wardrobe.

For more information, call 617-480-2741 or visit the N-ti Boutique website.

Check out our video and photos captured during a visit Tuesday afternoon at N-ti Boutique in Malden.