Bentonville, AR September 2025

September Style Issue

STYLE + BEAUTY

LOCAL DESIGNS

BENTONVILLE LIVSN

LOCAL SERVICES

MERTINS HAS AN EYE FOR STYLE

When You Hear Hoofbeats, Think Zebras

Capturing the unique style of Bentonville in this issue was a challenge. If you’re working from a booth at Ledger and you hear clicking footsteps coming down the hall, it’s less likely to be a pair of Louboutin’s than it is a pair of SPD cleats—but I wouldn’t put any money on it if I were you. A collared quick-dry shirt passes for business casual and a “strappy sandal” is probably a pair of Chacos (yes, I’m going on record as being team Chaco. Sorry, Teva folks).

Speaking of Chacos, I recently broke down and replaced mine after years of use and abuse. They waded and floated countless miles of Ozark rivers, spent as many nights around campfires, and, on one occasion, traversed a couple snowfields on Piegan Pass after my Sportivas were poking just a little too far out from the vestibule during a rain storm the night before. They’re now living out retirement as my lawn-mowing footwear.

I bring them up because I would say that’s where my “style” normally leans— timeless, functional. Okay, maybe Chaco isn’t the best example. Brands like Filson and Barbour are probably a better fit and have been filling that space for outdoors enthusiasts for over a century—outfitting for function and style. I have a tin cloth Filson jacket that I got secondhand and I know it’s at least as old as me. It pairs as well with jeans as it does brush chaps, so long as I remember to check for quail feathers.

Ultimately, the clothes we wear are an expression of who we are. Fortunately for us, local brands like LIVSN are tailoring (literally) their lines to meet the unique needs of Bentonville and outdoors-centric folks everywhere. Their Flex Canvas pants look sharp in the office but you won’t have to change out of them for a bouldering session after work.

Want to upgrade your eyewear for nights out in Bentonville but also need a pair of glasses that can handle an all day gravel ride? Our friends at Mertins Eye and Optical can fix you up with both.

Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum of functional to fashionable, there’s a fit for you in Bentonville. But most importantly, no matter what you’re wearing, Bentonville is a fit for you.

WYATT LAYMAN, PUBLISHER @BENTONVILLECITYLIFESTYLE

September 2025

PUBLISHER

Wyatt Layman | wyatt.layman@citylifestyle.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Michelle Bazis | michelle.bazis@citylifestyle.com

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Claire McFarland | claire.mcfarland@citylifestyle.com

PUBLISHER ASSISTANT

Katriel Daniels | katriel.daniels@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Katriel Daniels

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

COO Matthew Perry

CRO Jamie Pentz

VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson

VP OF SALES Andrew Leaders

AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe

LAYOUT DESIGNER Amanda Schilling

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler

Charity Cummings

Area Manager | NMLS #404245 1401 SE Walton Blvd, Suite 101 Bentonville, AR 72712

D:417.894.4193

ccummings@guildmortgage.net guildmortgage.com/charitycummings

She truly went above and beyond

...to make the selling process as smooth as possible. It is clear that she knows the NWA market well and has a true passion for real estate.

Choosing A.J. to list my home was the best decision I could have made, and I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a realtor!

Beth S.

Randy S. Very compassionate about her craft.

She will tirelessly dedicate herself to your goal. She is very warm and caring and makes you feel like family. Armed with a wealth of trade secrets, technology, and social media presence, you will achieve your real estate endeavors in a timely manner.

inside the issue

Local Designs Bentonville LIVSN The B-Corp Designing Versatile Apparel With Durability & Emotional Longevity

Andrew GibbsDabney, Founder of Bentonville-Based Outdoor Apparel Brand, LIVSN

Michelle Bazis

Peptides: Your New Secret Weapon!

Available at Premier Aesthetics & Wellness

Curious about peptides? You’re not alone.

1. What are peptides, anyway?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that signal your body to rejuvenate, repair, and restore. Think of them as tiny messengers with big beauty and wellness benefits.

2. What can peptides do for me?

From smoother skin and improved muscle tone to better sleep and fat metabolism — peptides support your body’s natural healing and performance.

3. Are peptides safe?

Yes — when used under professional guidance. At Premier, we offer only clinically backed peptides tailored to your health goals, symptoms, and lifestyle. In partnership with Nuda Therapeutics, our peptides are the only ones third-party tested for purity, potency, and safety.

4. How are peptides different from other treatments?

Unlike synthetic drugs or hormones, peptides work with your body’s own systems for more natural, targeted results.

5. How do I get started?

It’s simple. Book a consultation with our expert team and discover the peptide protocol that’s right for you.

Designs LOCAL BENTONVILLE LIVSN

Leather washers; one of many special elements LIVSN designs into its apparel to improve durability and longevity.

The B-Corp Designing Versatile Apparel With Durability & Emotional Longevity

ARTICLE AND

PHOTOGRAPHY

BY MICHELLE BAZIS

Born in Louisiana and raised in Arkansas, Andrew GibbsDabney, has always lived a life marked by a passion for the outdoors. An avid fan of fishing, climbing, and mountain biking, he attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville to study recreation management before immersing himself in the retail world as an executive at Arkansas-based apparel brand, Fayettechill.

Through hard-learned lessons, Gibbs-Dabney experienced a season of transformation when life was stripped down to its bare necessities. Channeling this humbling experience into renewed purpose, he set out to create something useful, meaningful, and enduring. From this mindset, LIVSN was born—an outdoor apparel brand dedicated to creating versatile, thoughtfully designed garments for people who value experiences over excess.

“When I had nothing, I realized it wasn’t the stuff that was important; it was what I didn’t have: the people and the freedom to make new memories,” he said. “When I started to accumulate stuff again, I noticed that managing all these things was taking up more of my time, which meant doing the things I loved less. So, I started simplifying everything I owned to get down to the core things that mean a lot to me.”

Gibbs-Dabney launched LIVSN in 2018 in Fayetteville with nothing more than a set of design principles, company values, and a manifesto on sustainability. With these foundational elements in place, phase two for the brand included a series of Kickstarter campaigns to create “the best pants in the world.”

“We started with two products, the Flex Canvas Pants and The Hi-Wool Fleece, but we discontinued the fleece almost immediately,” he shared. For years, LIVSN refined its one product, which remains its best-selling item: The Flex Canvas Pants in brown.

It wasn’t until 2021 that the founder moved the brand to its original flagship space on 8th Street in Bentonville. He and his wife, Sarah, considered moving LIVSN to other areas of the country where traditional outdoor clothing companies operate, but decided Northwest Arkansas—with its four seasons and state investments in outdoor tourism—was where the brand needed to be.

“Along with being home, Arkansas has so much to offer for the outdoors. Here, you have all four seasons, which gives us the right to have something to say in all categories.”

In the years following their move to Bentonville, LIVSN continued to release intentional products that its founder says “deserve to exist.” With the goal to release one to three new garments each year, GibbsDabney says the design process begins one of two ways: function first or fabric first. Either way, the item must function in excess of its impact.

“The goal is for the garment to last longer, work better, and have a more intuitive design,” he explained. “We support that with a lifetime warranty and repair service.”

A fresh example of their design process is LIVSN’s Creek Shirt. According to Gibbs-Dabney, while there are plenty of river shirts out there, none were optimized to support environments like Arkansas’.

“It felt like there was a product that was missing for hot and humid climates. We need something lightweight and breathable that feels better when it’s wet, and we wanted something that looked less technical so you could wear it to the creek or dinner.”

The LIVSN Creek Shirt is made with one of the brand’s go-to ingredient fabrics, Seawool ® Ripstop, which is crafted from recycled oyster shells and plastic bottles. “In addition to designing with versatility and durability in mind, our premium price point has a lot to do with the fact that we get obsessed with very nice fabrics,” Gibbs-Dabney said.

Considering the original concept for the brand was to design clothing for an “own-less, do-more” lifestyle, it would be appropriate to liken LIVSN’s capsule apparel - with its ageless silhouettes, adaptable colorways, and sturdy construction - to investment pieces like cowboy boots or a tailored suit.

This multi-faceted approach to design culminates in what Gibbs-Dabney calls, “Emotional Durability.”

“Emotional durability is how long you care about something. It’s the little features that make a product special to

you that make you more likely to keep it and take care of it. Those are our people. That’s the win we're going for.”

Every move at LIVSN has a method, and none could be more methodical than applying for B Corp certification. This extensive application process validates the brand’s authenticity in its commitment to public benefit and sustainable practices.

“Earning our B Corp certification has validated a lot of the work we do,” Gibbs-Dabney said. “It says we walk the walk when it comes to what we say we do, and how we care about the world. It shows that we are taking into account priorities outside of making money.”

Earlier this year, LIVSN relocated its flagship store to a creekfront property along the Razorback Greenway at 3803 NW Wishing Spring Drive in Bentonville. Neighboring companions in the outdoor industry like Gnargo Bikes, Pedal It For ward, 37 North, and BuddyPegs, LIVSN’s new space gives its ambassadors direct access to the lifestyle they design for aligning with the epithet it’s named after: LIVSN comes from a Swedish word, ‘livsnjutare’, which means, "One who lives life fully.”

Set your schedule. Make an impact. Build a life you’re proud of.

Behind each of our 200+ City Lifestyle magazines is someone who cares deeply about their community. Someone who connects people, celebrates businesses, and shares the stories that matter most. What if that someone was you?

Or maybe it’s someone you know. If this isn’t the right time for you, but you know someone who could be the perfect fit, we’d love an introduction

Markets available nationwide. Learn more at future.citylifestyle.com

MERT I N S ' EYE FOR STYLE

OPTOMETRIST'S FAMILY STYLES LOOKS FROM HER

BENTONVILLE CLINIC & LUXURY EYEWEAR BOUTIQUE

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHELLE

BAZIS

Focus on Design

“When I first opened, no one was offering handmade small boutique eyewear. I saw the need to bring luxury eyewear to NWA and sought out brands that have a focus on craftsmanship and style that I can offer exclusively in Arkansas.”

CONTINUED >

Dr. Allyson Mertins with husband, William, a NWA-based attorney. The two are board members on Buffalo Devo, a local mountain bike development team.

Wearing: MYKITA® Eyeglasses.

Eye For Style

“Our daughter, Ella, just graduated Cum Laude from Ole Miss with an honors degree in chemistry. She’ll attend Southern College of Optometry this fall and plans to return to NWA to join the practice. She and Hattie, who currently attends Hass Hall Academy, both love fashion and have eyes for style.”

The eldest Mertins child, Cate, loves to travel and works as a business analyst for Colgate-Palmolive. She is wearing AHLEM Eyewear, crafted in France and Japan.

Bentonville Looks

Mertins Eye & Optical offers expert eye care and luxury eyewear from two NWA locations: Fayetteville and Bentonville. Dr. Mertins curates styles to accommodate every aspect of Bentonville living, including premium frames for school, work, everyday styles, and performance.

Will studies mechanical engineering at the University of Arkansas and competes nationally in mountain biking. He wears 100% Performance Eyewear.

STYLISH DESIGNS, ORGANIZED LIVING

ARTICLE BY MICHELLE BAZIS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHELLE BAZIS & CASE MANER

CLOSETS BY DESIGN CRAFTS CUSTOM SOLUTIONS TO BEAUTIFULLY ORGANIZE SPACES TO FIT YOUR STYLE

The box we keep our stuff in. Home.

Whittled down to the basics, these roofed walls—in their different sizes and styles—are the built to keep us safe and our special belongings organized. But, from one homeowner to another, I think we can all admit how easy it can be to amass an unexpected amount of ‘stuff’ as the years pass.

Life changes and evolves. We add pets or kids—maybe both—to the mix, pick up a few hobbies, host dinner parties, and before we know it, the new house ‘with so much storage’ is starting to feel tight. And it’s never more evident than during a move when, after box 55, we mutter, “How do we have so much stuff?”

In Bentonville, our homes are more dynamic than most. Our garages double as bike shops, making quality mud rooms and laundry rooms invaluable. Our sheds store kayaks and paddle boards in addition to yard tools, and we host heaps of out-of-towners. The “bonus room” could be a classroom or a home office, while some of us decide to renovate and rent to seasonal tourists.

However you choose to hodgepodge your digs, Case and Melissa Maner, and their crew of designers and builders at Closets by Design, have fully customizable solutions to keep the chaos organized, functional, and beautiful.

During a tour of their Springdale warehouse, Case explained how keeping their manufacturing process in-house allows his team to oversee quality control at every aspect of the design and installation experience, whether it’s a custom closet, garage storage solutions, playrooms, or pantries.

“Because of our factory, we're cutting and drilling all our wood here,” he explained.

"We start by sending our designer to your home to walk through, measure, and sketch out an idea for your space. You’ll first receive

a light and functional design that you can adjust with a variety of style options and special features. Then we manufacture and send our installers out to put everything together for you.”

In addition to their bread and butter - walk-in closets - some of their recent projects have included custom breakfast nooks, laundry rooms, garage makeovers, and a guest room with built-ins and a Murphy Bed. While its name is deceivingly singular, Closets by Design is an efficient solution for transforming our chaos of ‘stuff’ into to add functional, organized, and stylish spaces.

Take the playroom, for example—arguably one of the most chaotic rooms in any house. Between books, games, building blocks, and art supplies, clutter can take over fast. A custom storage system with functional bins and adjustable shelves can transform a messy room into a welcoming, easy-to-maintain space.

For those who have selected one of Bentonville’s older homes, you’re probably familiar with oddly shaped rooms, inconvenient window placement, or tight nooks that won’t cooperate with store-bought shelving. Closets by Design can build with and around these quirks to craft a stylish organization system that adds character without compromising the home’s original charm.

“It’s a game changer,” Case said. “My wife Melissa and I started the business a year and a half ago, and we never would have gotten into this business if we hadn’t had a custom walk-in in our master bedroom.”

The simple truth is, while home organization solutions may not seem like the most exciting house project, they have the power to transform daily routines. These solutions aren’t just about tidying up—they’re about enhancing how a home functions. Every project aims to balance beauty and utility. When our closets are designed to accommodate our mornings and our garages are set up for safe and easy access to toys and tools, we preserve our favorite ‘stuff’ and spend more time enjoying it rather than looking for it.

Decluttering and beautifying a space can have a profound effect on our peace, removing stress from everyday tasks and replacing frustration with a sense of pride. As Maner expressed, stylish organization can be a game-changer for your home, and once it’s done, you’ll wonder how you ever did life without it.

Because at the end of the day, our home is more than box for our things–it’s where we do life. And with the right design, even the most chaotic space can become comfortably and beautifully lived-in.

For more information, visit www.closetsbydesign.com or call (479) 847-1954.

“WE NEVER WOULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO THIS BUSINESS IF WE HADN’T HAD A CUSTOM WALK-IN.”

SEPTEMBER 1ST

Labor Day 5K

NWACC XC Course | 6:00 PM

Run on over to the NWACC Eagles Track and Cross Country Scholarship Fundraiser event! Starting at 6 PM there will be a 1K race, followed by a 5K at 6:30 PM. Direct any queries beforehand to c3weller@nwacc.edu.

SEPTEMBER 6TH

Pancho Barraza

The Momentary | 7:00 PM

Rain or shine, El Poeta del Amor will light up our Live on the Green Concert Series with his unforgettable banda sound. Don’t miss this electrifying performance by the iconic Mexican singer-songwriter, whose heartfelt lyrics and infectious rhythms will transport you far beyond the stage.

SEPTEMBER 13TH

Tour de NWA Cycling Fest

1001 Melissa Drive Bentonville, AR | 7:00 AM

You no longer have to decide between BBQ and tacos, because this year there will be both! Come join in the fun as Dress for Success Northwest Arkansas hosts yet another amazing ride, with all proceeds going to those in our community who could use a helping hand. Event will run from 7AM-2PM.

CONTINUED

SEPTEMBER 19TH

121st Benton County Fair

Benton County Fairgrounds and Expo Center | 5:00 PM

Carry on the tradition with this week of celebrating as a community! Food trucks, games and rides, a petting zoo, livestock shows, exhibitors, and the list goes on and on. Find all the info you need on facebook or the website: www.bentoncountyfairar.org. Fair will be held Sept 19-27.

SEPTEMBER 23RD

Bentonville in Motion (Dance)

A Street Promenade | 6:00 PM

Get moving with Bentonville in Motion—a free series on the Square that’s all about fun, community, and staying active! Bring a partner or come solo and dance with us in the heart of downtown!

SEPTEMBER 27TH

Fifth Market Fall

1000 SE 5th Street. | 9:00 AM

Stop by the Airship lawn on Saturday, September 27th, to browse a local maker and vintage market with great music, coffee, and bites. Previous events have featured locally crafted goods like ceramics, frameable art, jewelry, quilted jackets, and more.