5 things to know about AM Collective on Clinton Row

am 3 1 — Ashli and Michaela are the friendly faces behind AM Collective. (Sarah Gronberg / Hville Blast)

The Clinton Row shops in downtown Huntsville are a unique collection of small businesses. Find out more about one of them—AM Collective—and the story behind it.

1. What AM Collective is

AM Collective is a unique spot in Huntsville. Here’s how the owners define what it’s all about.

“It’s a curated collection of vintage finds and handmade creations.”
Ashli and Michaela

And the two go hand-in-hand. The vintage finds are one-of-a-kind, and so are the handmade creations from local creators.

2. The owners were childhood friends

Ashli and Michaela had been friends as they were growing up in Hazel Green, and their moms were friends as well. You can find old pictures inside of the two together as little girls!

When they grew up, they lost touch a bit. Ashli went into nonprofit work, and Michaela was a waitress at Supper Heroes for eight years (which made our guide to 11 of the best local burgers, by the way!).

They both quit their jobs around the same time, without the other knowing it. When they finally reconnected and found out that they had both quit, they decided to start something together.

“When we finally got back together it was like nothing had changed since we were kids.”
Ashli

Ashli and Michaela are both artists, and they both love collecting vintage finds.

“We collect way too many things, so we figured we’d share it with others.”
Michaela

So, in November 2019, AM Collective was born.

3. They’ve got so many unique finds

AM Collective is just that—a collective. They have over 30 consigners and they gather their vintage goods from all kinds of different sources.

Even though their space is small, you can get lost browsing through all the different pieces—each one with a story.

Here’s one of those stories. Ashli and Michaela recently inherited the estate of a local woman named Elsie. Elsie was a professor at Alabama A&M University, and her husband was a professor at UAH.

Elsie’s son, who happens to be one of AM Collective’s consigners, dropped by one day to give them the news. Here’s just some of things from his mother’s estate that Ashli and Michaela inherited.

Silk suits from Saks Fifth Avenue from the ’50s
A Harris tweed coat from the ’60s in perfect condition
Handmade dresses from the ’30s
Purses from the ’20s

Want to see a hundred-year-old purse? AM Collective’s got it.

4. They’re apart of a community

AM Collective is in the Clinton Row Shops building in Downtown Huntsville. The Clinton Row Shops include over 30 independently-owned small businesses, including boutiques, salons, photographers, jewelry makers, gift shops and even a speakeasy.

Ashli and Michaela emphasized the amazing community-minded atmosphere at the Clinton Row Shops.