Oct. 10--Free People's boho-chic clothing has long been sold in the Northwest at Nordstrom and smaller specialty stores. Now, the Urban Outfitters-owned brand is introducing stores of its own in the Northwest.

Free People opened a store at Bellevue Square in August and plans a second location next month in downtown Seattle. Opening is set for Nov. 7 at the First and Stewart Building across from Pike Place Market. A third Northwest store opens Nov. 14 in Portland.

Free People's Bellevue Square location has the feel of a woman's loft apartment, where the favorite decade probably is the '70s.

The walls are decorated with brightly colored afghans, and shag rugs cover the dressing-room floors. Top sellers include crochet-knit, thigh-high socks for $24, acrylic-wool berets for $38, and raspberry plaid jumpers for $148.

Sonja Biesold, a 36-year-old mom who lives in Issaquah, said she became familiar with the Free People label at Nordstrom several years ago. She bought a gray cowl-neck dress and pink tunic at Free People in Bellevue this week for about $270.

"Yeah, you like to get a deal," she said, holding a flowery cloth Free People bag with her purchases inside. "But I can wear this so many different ways, and it works for my bracket."

Philadelphia-based Urban Outfitters, which also owns Anthropologie stores, began in 1970 under the Free People name, with a single location selling vintage Levi jeans.

Although the name changed to Urban Outfitters, Free People later returned as a wholesale line catering to young women who like Bohemian styles.

It opened a store in 2002 in Paramus, N.J., and has since expanded to 24 locations in 10 states, including California, Texas and Virginia.

So far, parent Urban Outfitters has been doing well despite a difficult economic environment nationally. For the second quarter that ended July 31, the company reported a 13 percent increase in sales at stores open at least a year and a 79 percent jump in profit.

Behind its Free People expansion is a preference for spreading growth across several divisions, rather than creating a single ubiquitous brand.

As of July 31, the company had 132 Urban Outfitters stores and 115 Anthropologie stores, well ahead of Free People, which expects to have about 30 locations by Jan. 31. (The divisions' differences can be summed up by their target demographics: Urban Outfitters stores aim for men and women aged 18 to 30; Anthropologie stores, women 30 to 45; and Free People, women 25 to 30.)

"We're inspired by creativity, not the masses," said Sheila Harrington, director of merchandising for Free People in Philadelphia.