Life & Work with Amanda Weir of Malibu

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Weir.

Hi Amanda, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been working in retail since high school when I started at Planet Blue in Malibu. I studied Fashion Design and Marketing in London for college, eventually leading me to styling when I moved back to LA. After working in that industry I needed a change of pace and stumbled into a sales associate role at Burro in Venice, down the street from where I was living at the time. I had no idea what I was going to do with my life, but I knew I loved retail. After some time I worked my way up to assisting with buying and visual merchandising which then led to a full time role in those areas as well as Creative Direction. After eight years at Burro, it was time for me to branch out on my own, which is when Abierto was born. I moved to Austin, TX to open a brick and mortar shop, but when the pandemic hit I re-assessed everything and decided to move back to my hometown of Malibu and open a shop dedicated to serving the local community. I opened our storefront in Point Dume in the summer of 2021.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Is life ever a smooth road?! The beauty comes in the twists and turns, and I probably would not be here without the bumps and detours.
Opening in the midst of the pandemic was a risky move to some, but for me, I saw a great opportunity to bring some life and freshness into our community. Over the past few months, we have had three major fires that have affected our community as well, which we are all still recovering from. That’s one of the things with retail – every day is a gamble. You never know who will walk in, what will sell, and especially what external factors will hit. You have to be comfortable with living in that state of the unknown, which is tested daily for sure. That muscle builds over time, and I have our incredible community to thank for the unwavering support, throughout the good, bad, and all the in between.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My buying style is a direct reflection of myself and my experiences and I’m so lucky to be in the midst of a like-minded community. I value unique goods, small batch, handmade, can’t find it everywhere pieces that become part of your own personal collection, versus a more fast paced, disposable type of consumerism. Vintage holds a special place in Abierto – I scour the flea markets locally and all throughout my travels to bring one of a kind pieces to the shop and I think that makes it really fun. I love brick and mortar shops for the true feeling of discovery and the full sensory experience and by adding in these one off pieces it brings a sense of excitement that feels really fun.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shopabierto.com
• Instagram: @shopabierto

Image Credits
Sarah Noel Photogarphy
Kylie Shea Brown
Arielle Vandenberg
Amanda Weir