About Us
Civil Alchemy was founded by Kelley Hall-Barr as a retail concept that came to life with the opening of our brick-and-mortar store in September 2017. Rooted in high-quality, utilitarian lifestyle goods, we are dedicated to slow fashion—curating timeless pieces that resist passing trends. From the start, our purpose has been simple: to offer functional, beautiful, and enduring products to the retail market. Kelley draws inspiration from nature, bringing forward concepts of simplicity and function—always valuing purpose over form.
The Barr family lives in Webster Groves, Missouri—a historic Main Street town just outside St. Louis. Passionate about the community, they restored a row of century-old buildings near their home, now home to Civil Alchemy, The Frisco Barroom (a neighborhood bar and restaurant), and The Annex (a bakery, deli, coffee shop, and market).
When not working, the family can be found hiking, fly-fishing, or enjoying time with friends and family at their lake house in Northern Michigan—where Kelley grew up and still finds much of her inspiration.
At its core, Civil Alchemy is a family brand built on thoughtfulness, integrity, and respect for nature as art. Every product we create or curate is meant to enrich life through function, simplicity, and timeless design.