If you like wearing the latest, brand name fashions, but you don’t like brand-name prices, consignment shopping may be the way to go.

Local pharmacist Aviance Lewis opened Mama’s Closet consignment shop in Driver Village during the fall, and it has been serving customers ever since.

The store carries seasonal women’s, men’s, and children’s fashions; handbags; shoes; jewelry from a local designer; wedding and formal dresses; books; items for babies and toddlers and more.

The lack of consignment shops in the area and Lewis’ love for them inspired her to open the shop. Her connection to gently used second-hand clothing goes back to college.

“As a college student, I was required to dress professionally for the program I as in. I no longer had my mother’s closet to use as an extension on my own, so consignment shopping became my new budget friendly best friend,” she said. “I have been hooked ever since then.”

Lewis said she drove past the empty storefront at Driver Village everyday for months on her way home from work, and she dreamed about what the building could be.

“Driver is a great quaint little town. Consignment fits in with the whole dynamics of Driver,” she said. “I’ve always loved consignment shopping, so I thought why don’t I give it a shot.”

As a mother, working as a pharmacist and business owner, Lewis said that her greatest challenge is time, but she is pleased about her decision to open the shop.

She said she modeled her business after consignment shops that have been in business for 20 years or more. Business was a little slow before the holidays, but it has picked up since the beginning of the year.

The store carries a number of designer names in work clothes, kids clothes, and formal dresses. “We have great gowns. We’ve had people come in and just stare at them,” she said.

The store is straight consignment, she said, meaning that the consigner will receive 50 percent of the profit after the item has been sold. All clothes are cleaned and evaluated before they are accepted at the store.