Soul of 78: Kaylen DeFoor and Farrah Alexander

Owners, House of Banks

Words by Micah Harrison | Image by Justin Hunter

"My whole life, we've been known as one of the Banks girls," says Kaylen DeFoor of herself and her sisters.

Her sister, Farrah Alexander, nods in agreement. "Even though we've gotten married, and we have different last names now, we're still the Banks girls."

That sisterly connection was the spark behind House of Banks, a Sumiton-based consignment store for formal and event wear, which the two opened together in May 2023.

Farrah and Kaylen are the first and third, respectively, of the four Banks sisters. For them, the shop is a natural extension of the love for pageants and dresses they've shared since they were young.

As parents with daughters of their own, Kaylen and Farrah found themselves with closets full of dresses that had been worn only once or twice. Farrah notes that her daughter accumulated 15 new dresses across her four years in high school. They noticed that other moms faced the same challenge of finding new homes for these barely used gowns.

The idea for House of Banks began to take shape. Both sisters saw a need for a place where parents could resell dresses and girls try them on. "We just want everybody to come in and get that experience and hopefully find a dress," Kaylen says, describing their vision of a boutique-like atmosphere for consigned gowns.

In early 2023, the sisters felt it was time to bring the idea to life. They began praying about their plans, hoping for guidance on the right path. "We prayed that if this is what we're supposed to do, just let it unfold," Kaylen says.

Finding a location became their biggest focus. They expanded their search beyond Jasper and, finally, came across an ideal spot on Main Street in Sumiton.

Since opening in May 2023, House of Banks has quickly become a unique venue for finding gently used formal and event wear. The shop offers a variety of dresses, earrings, and shoes that circulate quickly. Hence, customers often find new items each time they visit. Kaylen and Farrah have created a welcoming, elegant space that allows girls to have the full dress-shopping experience without the high costs.

House of Banks has continued to grow for over a year, fueled by the same sisterly connection that started it all. As Kaylen and Farrah pur it, they'll always be "the Banks girls," but now they're also business partners, and they're sharing that sisterly spirit with every customer who walks through the door. 78