Today we’d like to introduce you to Inok Alrutz.
Hi Inok, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
A longtime lover of northern AZ and an Alumni of ASU, shop founder Inok Alrutz opened ReFab shortly after returning to Arizona in 2022. The business began with pop-ups at local outdoor markets in 2023, with Alrutz curating thrifted finds, and performing the mending, repairs and alterations needed for the clothes to remain current and stylish.
A windfall of an opportunity came a year later wherein a highly coveted artist loft space upstairs on Aspen Avenue practically fell into the entrepreneur’s lap. As a working artist, Alrutz had been sharing the studio space with several others, some of whom were fellow grantees of the City of Flagstaff’s Art & Beautification grants. And as luck would have it, all the other artists gradually vacated their corners of the 20X30 ft studio, leaving the space entirely for use by the Alrutz-Kabotie team which had produced the Bridges of Flagstaff Art Installation for ARTx Festival in 2023-2024, (https://artxideas.org/artists/bridges-of-flagstaff/, https://www.instagram.com/bridgesofflagstaff/), and the sculpture Divine Feminine Direction for the Liz Archuleta Park sculptural exhibit of 2024-2025. (https://publicartarchive.org/collections/The-City-of-Flagstaff-Public-Art-Collection).
With no new grant funded projects slated for the 2024-2025 season, Kabotie generously allowed Alrutz full use of the art studio, which she then converted into the permanent home for her collection of curated pre-owend and upcycled clothing. Additionally, Alrutz began to invite other artists to share their work through the space, and a collective evolved which has now grown to include over 3 dozen local independent artists and creators in addition to the curated and upcycled clothing.
Relying solely on members of the collective to host open hours, and on organic traffic through word of mouth and social media, the shop has evolved from its opening name of “Up & Coming’ to “ReFab” which will celebrate its 2 year aniversary and re-branded re-opening on Friday December 4th, 2026 as a part of the monthly First Friday Artwalk series hosted by Creative Flagstaff. Join founder Inok Alrutz plus many of the local artists who are a part of the ReFab Collective on Friday December 4th from 5-9pm for specials on handmade gifts and winter accessories.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Through the cooperation of the artists, creators and curators who are a part of the ReFab Collective, the business has been able to keep its doors open through a couple of hot summers, dry winters and extra rainy autumns.
It is our hope that our organically derived traffic will continue to increase, as more visitors to Flagstaff choose to shop at this this special boutique focused on sustainable fashion, handmade crafts, and supporting local artists.
In order to supplement our income when weather or other factors slow foot traffic, we have also been offering some events. Clothing swaps are not a substantial money making event at just $10 per person, yet they allow many people from the community to offload unwanted clothing, get some new clothing, meet new people, and possibly discover another sustainable local shopping resource.
Figure drawing open studio sessions held weekly on Wednesday evenings in 6-8 week chunks have also been a source of income for the shop and a soothing creative outlet for the small community of artists that have come to frequent the open studio for life drawing experience.
We will also be launching a website which will make these special creations and curations available to a wider audience. Visit if you can, or find us online at refabrevolution.shop until you can make the trip in person!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Although I have worked in a wide range of artistic media including painting, sculpture, and mixed media installation art, I have come to realize that my truest art form is in curating and facilitating community.
I have throughly enjoyed the artistic process found through creating the Bridges of Flagstaff for the ARTx festivals in 2023-2024, but what was most rewarding for me about that experience was the cultivation of friendship between myself and the three other artists involved, as well as the beautiful participation of the local community who interacted with the outdoor public art installation.
My experience of co-creating the 8 ft sculpture Divine Feminine Direction was the same. The creation of the artwork itself is only the means to the end of creating community experience and a sense of connection.
My work at ReFab Collective is the same. It may appear that I am merely creating sketches, paintings, upcycled clothing, and a well-decorated commercial space, but in reality I am creating an unique experience for my fellow artists and for the shoppers who visit; an experience of shopping top quality second hand items that have received independent attention and care required to remain in circulation, the charm of the historic downtown building, the spark of authenticity that connects shoppers with the one-of-a-kind items they find in store, and the special care each of our artist-curator shop hosts brings to their daily interactions with visitors.
I am most proud of the level of authenticity and artistic integrity that I am able to cultivate and share with the community of both artists and shoppers. We have also created community surrounding our events which include semi annual clothing swap parties and weekly figure drawing open studios.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Opening any business is inherently a risky situation, however, I have been able to mitigate some of those risks by allowing the other members of the collective to share both in the risks and the rewards.
Artists are paid out monthly on a consignment basis, meaning that they’ve entrusted their artwork and creations into the space in good faith that those items will be well cared-for while on display, and that they will be paid after each item sells.
In a product based business, products must be first acquired before they can be sold. Selling on consignment helps our shop reduce this risk.
Overhead for the upstairs artist loft space from which the shop is run is relatively low for a space in downtown, and therefore is a manageable risk.
It was also helpful that I was able to use my sales numbers from outdoor markets as a gauge for how much income I could expect to generate from a physical location before opening the shop.
Pricing:
- Most Accessories: $8-$30
- One of a Kind Upcycles: $30-$230
- Most Curated Clothing: $15-$50
- Coats & Leather Jackets: $45-$150
- Most Art Prints: $25-$65
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.refabrevolution.shop
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refabcollective/
