With LDS temple clothing in short supply, a local retailer has been taking donations from Latter-day Saints who find their temple clothes no longer fit or need to be replaced.

Anna Barbieri, co-owner of White Elegance, says she has been collecting clothing for shipment to church members who live near the Colonia Juarez Temple in Mexico. "There's a huge need and we're taking donations from people who have them just sitting in their closets."

She stressed the store only accepts white dresses, shirts, slacks and ties — not the ceremonial clothing church members use.

The donations have been paired with "seconds" from the store's manufacturing operation and shipped to anxious members. "The Mexican saints just can't believe they are giving the clothes away," she said of the donations.

On the retail side, business has never been better, Barbieri says. She's not only doing contract work for the LDS Church, but Latter-day Saints who can't buy clothes from Beehive Clothing are flocking to her store. "We get calls from all over the world saying 'Beehive has nothing for three months, what can you give me?' "

Barbieri says she's talked with representatives at Wasatch Front temples who say they are "patching their rental clothing because they can't get new ones."

The Murray-based company is also selling worldwide via Internet, and even has "layover" customers who've heard about the store and call from the airport. "They'll say they have a two-hour layover and want to buy temple clothes. They want to know how to get here." An Orem store was recently opened.

Latter-day Creations, another local retailer that specializes in temple clothing, has grown with the demand and now has five outlets in Utah, including one in Monticello. The first small temple to be completed, the edifice has kept business there brisk because the store is the only local outlet for temple clothes.

Owner Karen Aland said her American Fork-based business is looking to expand to multiple locations where small temples are being built. "That's our goal — to expand as much as we can through the years."

While the company hasn't done contract sewing for Beehive, "temples have called and purchased items from us directly — they've wanted things that we had that they weren't able to get."

Aland started out as a "cottage industry" business, and still employs women who sew in their own homes, as well as employees who manufacture the clothing. Internet sales contribute to the worldwide nature of the business.

Because her stores include LDS books, jewelry and music, she sees a wide market as the LDS Church continues to grow. "We've got so many people asking that we have a hard time deciding where to open next."