Couture and a program for transitioning young adults may seem an unlikely pairing. ButLibby Alexander and Mae Martin brought their passions together, and the result works like a pair of Prada boots with your very best jeans. They discovered one another as many girlfriends do, through someone’s little sister (it was Mae’s). She relayed their seemingly disparate interests: Libby’s of bringing exquisite, affordable design to all, and Mae’s of helping troubled young adults find their way. Libby envisioned a high‐end consignment shop, the likes of which she had seen in big cities. Mae was coincidentally thinking about opening a consignment store in Boulder, but was moreover searching for a safe, exciting place for AIM House participants to acquire positive life skills. Both were believers in the power of local artistry and individual creativity. An introduction was made, a collaboration set in motion, and on November 17, 2007, Libby and Mae debuted Common Threads.