This Charlotte boutique is styled like a home — and meant to feel like one

We’re back with another spotlight in Kaleidoscope’s BIPOC small business series — and this one’s all about fashion, interiors and intentional design.

Formerly Roam & Dwell, A-part[meant] is a Charlotte boutique where apartment life meets personal style. Founded by Deanna and Angel Sargent, the space is designed to feel like home — literally. Styled like a modern apartment, the boutique invites shoppers to connect, explore, and find pieces that feel meant to be part of their lives.

Read on to learn how the duo brought their vision to life and why creating community is at the heart of it all.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Q: Tell us a bit about how A-part[meant] came to be.

Angel: My wife and I are originally from Connecticut. She moved to Charlotte in 2012, and I came down during the pandemic in 2020. A few years into dating, we came across a store called Rome and Dwell on Central Avenue. We were offered the opportunity to take over the space and eventually the name, and that’s where we started.

We started hosting events focused on fashion, art and design. Over time, we realized we were outgrowing the name and wanted something that reflected us. That’s how A-part[meant] was born.

Q: What’s the mission behind A-part[meant]?

Deanna: We really wanted to create something that felt set apart. There are plenty of boutiques and galleries, but we felt like we had a different vision — something a little unconventional. We wanted to bring that to Charlotte.

Q: Community is clearly a huge part of what you’re building. What does that word mean to you?

Angel: Community is everything. It’s not just the people around you, it’s also the energy you bring and share. I grew up in a tight-knit, lower-income neighborhood, where everyone looked out for each other. We do everything we can to encourage growth.

As a business, we want to be more than a shop. We want to be a valuable part of Charlotte — to add to the city’s identity and help build up things like nightlife and tourism. You want to give the city a character that helps attract people.

Q: How do you both stay inspired and creative?

Angel: The people around us, that’s number one. They’re not just customers or clients; they became our friends. It’s a really intimate part of our lives. Their curiosity and their desire to see or do things differently constantly inspire us.

Coming from New York, I was used to always being on the go. But people didn’t really talk about their ambitions — they just did the work. Here in Charlotte, we’ve met people who openly share what they want to create next. That’s inspirational to us because there’s a desire and passion from everybody. We’ve also built great relationships with other business owners in the city who keep us inspired — like Justin from Lorem Ipsum, Kevin from The Exchange and Gina from Curio Craft and Conjure. We’ve created some great friends who really just keep us going.

Deanna: Yes, and Angel and I are both creative people. We went to the same visual and performing arts high school in Connecticut, so it’s naturally instilled in us. But for me, inspiration also comes from beautiful things — fabrics, food, music, travel. You should see my Pinterest boards! I’m constantly collecting inspiration from all over.

And we bring that into the boutique. Even when it’s off-season for fashion shows, we started watching live footage of people walking and just seeing their fashion. The style of clothing we have is more along the lines of European in feel, but with a bit of edge. Angel brings the street edge.

Q: Who are some of the local creatives you’ve collaborated with?

Angel: There’s so much talent in Charlotte — we’ve worked with incredible local artists like Braxton Bateman and Malcolm Charles. Everyone we collaborate with is based right here in Charlotte.

Deanna: We carry designs from Anton and Maxine — a contemporary, sustainability-focused brand based in South Carolina. We also host weekly jazz nights in NoDa called Mo’ Better Thursdays, plus monthly mixers to not only cultivate community but also create brand awareness.

Q: What’s something you wish people knew more about your business?

Angel: We want to be a place that you come to, not just to feel like yourself but live the life you actually want to live.

Deanna: When someone walks into our space, we really want them to have a unique experience. We want to them to be able to get to know Angel and me. We love learning about people and sharing our passion for art, fashion and design. People will see that when they walk into our space, we’re very intentional about what we have here. We want people to know that they have a safe space here and they are truly meant to be apart of everything that we’re doing, be a part of this movement we’re creating and the journey we are on. We can’t have A-part[meant] without them.

A-part[meant]

Location: 811 Providence Road Charlotte, NC 28207

Instagram: @a.part.meant

This story was originally published June 25, 2025 at 5:00 AM.