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A few years ago, a woman set up a table and tent at street corners, a sign proclaiming her business: “A Sister Selling Socks.”

Robin Hall lugged those socks around for years, selling them at festivals, church events and, as passers-by on Lee Street and Bessemer and Summit avenues know, along well-traveled streets.

Today, many of those passers-by step into Christ In Charge Consignment and A Sister Selling Socks on Summit Avenue with an admonishment for Hall:

“I’ve been looking for you.”

Well, she moved her sock business in with her cousin Jolene Matos’ consignment and beauty shop two years ago. The two women, friends since they were children, said the arrangement works for them.

“It just became a situation where we were able to help each other,” Matos said.

“She was instrumental with me at a time I needed somebody when I couldn’t be there myself.”

Matos, who also works in real estate leasing, needed someone to watch over the shop during the day. Hall, who wanted to expand from selling socks to creating her own clothing, needed a home base.

So, the combined store was created.

Four hair stylists work in the beauty shop in back. Out front, the consignment shop offers items such as beaded vintage handbags and modern, gently used clothes.

And on one side of the store: socks.

There are “toe socks” that resemble gloves for feet. There are socks for athletes and special ones for people with diabetes. There are “hip socks,” which reach high enough to wear under short skirts.

And leg warmers, which Hall designed and contracted for someone to make.

Hall started selling socks in 2004, inspired by an ex-boyfriend who had sold socks, and her sister, who used to work for a sock company.

She has branched out to include what she calls “flavor skirts,” which she sews together from old jeans and other scrap materials. Each one is unique.

When Matos started her store, she had in mind a “one-stop shop” for women. The mix that her cousin brings makes the store well-rounded, she said.

Hall has a “wonderful heart” and “wonderful spirit,” Matos said.

“I’ve seen where people were walking down the street and their kids didn’t have socks,” Matos said. “And she’d give them socks.”

Contact Jennifer Fernandez at 373-7064 or jennifer.fernandez@news-record.com