Re-finery
Address: 156 East 900 South, Suite 101
Telephone: 385-295-6190
Website: refineryslc.com
District: Maven
“Good style is good style, and it doesn’t matter if it was made forty years ago or yesterday.” Adrienne Jarrett, owner of Re-finery Salt Lake City, combines her passion for fashion and her commitment to sustainability, creating a space where clothing not only tells a story but also contributes to an eco-friendlier future.
Born in Connecticut, Adrienne moved to SLC in 1990. "I worked for a company called Black Diamond Equipment that made climbing and ski equipment - and I actually moved here to climb." Around 2013, she moved to Helena, Montana, and started her business there. That well known Utah pull, however, brought her back to the place she always knew as home in 2021. It is here that she continued to build Re-finery into the thoughtfully curated shop it is today.
As an environmentalist and conservationist, Adrienne was drawn to fashion for its artistic potential but became increasingly concerned about its impact. “Fashion is the third-largest polluting industry in the world,” she shares. “But I love fashion, so I wanted to make it sustainable.” Re-finery specializes in high-quality, unique clothing with an emphasis on sustainable textiles, up-cycled items, and consignment pieces that offer style without waste.
What sets Re-finery apart is its carefully curated collection, with a focus on independent, high-end brands rather than mass-market labels. “We’re not Ann Taylor,” Adrienne says with a smile. “There’s plenty of that around, but I feel like clothes are art, and I select things based on that.” She offers both men’s and women’s clothing, and interestingly, her men’s section has attracted a loyal following. “I have these geeky male customers who are such fashion nerds. They know exactly what they want, down to their favorite creative directors from certain fashion houses.”
Adrienne’s approach to consignment is just as thoughtful as her inventory. She has over 200 consignors and receives items daily but is highly selective about what she accepts. “It depends on so many things,” she explains. “If I have ten medium black T-shirts, I’m not going to take an eleventh. But if something fits the vibe and I think I can sell it, I’ll take it.”
Since moving Re-finery to the Maven District, Adrienne has found a home in a vibrant community of women-owned businesses. “I love the vibe here,” she says, reflecting on the move from her original location, and then added, "The rent is cheaper, and there’s a great community around me. I’m in a special place.”
Alongside her work at Re-finery, Adrienne’s husband, Tim Davis, plays an important role in conservation as the deputy commissioner for the Great Salt Lake. Together, their commitment to sustainability extends beyond fashion into the broader environmental issues facing Utah. While Adrienne remains dedicated to her work, she acknowledges that the future is open. “I don’t know how much longer I’ll do this. I’m going to be sixty soon, and working with the public can be exhausting,” she admits. For now, though, she insists that she still loves what she does. For Adrienne, there is nothing like connecting with people through fashion, especially when it is something her customer is thrilled to own. “In the end, I’m here because I believe in a circular economy, and I think people want to feel good about what they wear - knowing it’s sustainable and has a story of its own.”
