'Quality And Style': Ebere's Custom-Designed Apparel For All Ages Comes To Bethesda

BETHESDA, MD — A new store, Ebere, held its grand opening on Friday at Westfield Montgomery Mall, bringing its custom-designed apparel for men, women and kids to Bethesda.

The new store, on the second floor of the mall between the Beauty Boss salon and the ECCO footwear chain, has more than 1,000 square feet, giving its owner, Alpha, plenty of room to showcase his shirts, pants, sweaters, hoodies, jackets, tracksuits, socks and other apparel.

Since starting in the clothing design and sales business more than six years ago, Alpha said he has always focused on “quality and style.”

"I want the customers to have a really good experience," he said. "I know they're going to love the quality. Wherever they go, customers have told me that people ask them about the clothes. So it's really about the customer experience."

He recalls a woman who loved his special edition poncho. "She said, 'I don't care how much it is, I just want to get the poncho,'" Alpha said. "When she went to church, everyone asked her where she got it from."

Alpha, who also sells his apparel online, chose to open the store at Westfield Montgomery Mall because of the diversity in the types of stores and the people who visit the mall. He previously had a kiosk at The Mall at Prince George's where he sold his apparel before deciding to move to Westfield Montgomery.

Ebere, a shortened version of his last name, means one who shows mercy to others. The hearts on many of the store’s clothing items mean blessings and good health. The thunderbolts inside the hearts mean positive energy in life. And the broken-hearted design means perseverance.

On the racks inside the store, the clothing hangs on custom-designed Ebere hangers. In the coming weeks, after the grand opening rush, the store will be adding rugs and mirrors.

Alpha said he has found that his clothing appeals to people of all ages. Many of the items at Ebere come in a size for everyone, running from 2X-small to 6X-large.

Most of the items are made with reflective material. The Ebere hats, for example, have metallic silver that sparkles and shines.

The Ebere hoodies, which are big sellers, have pockets on the chest that customers like for their usefulness and their looks, he said.

The clothing is made with high quality material that can be washed "a hundred times" without shrinking.

Ebere currently has three staff members, with other candidates expressing interest in working at the store.

Westfield Montgomery Mall, located at 7101 Democracy Blvd. in Bethesda, just off the I-270 spur, is open Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The store is holding a grand opening deal on most of the apparel inside the store for the rest of the month. The Ebere puffer jackets, for example, are selling for $250 in April, $100 off the regular price.

Ebere also has a rewards program for its customers — the more they purchase, the more points they receive.

Alpha said one of his long-term goals is to open Ebere stores in other malls and move into different states.

In the meantime, Alpha said he will be working hard to turn Ebere into a store that attracts people from across the D.C. area to Westfield Montgomery. "All you can do is work hard and see where you go from there — take it step by step and day by day," he said.