Local Designers Stores
A list of the coolest local designers shops around.
Keep
Fairfax - Los Angeles, CA United StatesAt Keep the lowly canvas sneaker, the most basic staple in casual footwear, is given a new and vivacious lease on life. One of a half dozen or so basic styles are embellished in stylish combinations of dyed and printed cotton fabrics. A pristine white sneaker is given a grass print toe, a...
Matrushka
Silverlake - Los Angeles, CA United StatesMade in China. Made in Malaysia. Made in the Federated States of Micronesia. While we appreciate the forces that permit our stores to sell T-shirts for $9.99, we also worry about becoming sweatshop owners by proxy. Matrushka gives us a chance...
Miniminimarket
Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY United StatesFor the girls who like to wear '80s clothing ironically or see pink paired with green as the perfect color combination or prefer their underwear to come with slogans, Miniminimarket is the biggest market they'll ever need. The store...
Minnie Wilde
The Mission - San Francisco, CA United StatesThe clothing of Minnie Wilde is about as fun as you'd expect clothing you bought from a place called "Minnie Wilde" to be. The San Francisco clothing line and shop mostly ignores the fits and fancies of the mainstream fashion world...
Ooma
North Beach - San Francisco, CA United StatesShort for objects of my affection, Ooma offers the quirky vision of its owner who invites you into her store as if you were a good friend dropping in for tea. She loves her store, her customers and her designers. It's her enthusiasm that...
Ostblock
Kreis 1 - Zurich, SwitzerlandReader Suggested: Ostblock is a nice store in Zurich that sells clothing from Eastern European designers. The store is run by Vanja Meško Russenberger who is originally from Ljubljana (Slovenia) but now lives in Switzerland. She not only sells clothing from different designers but designs herself and she offers...
Parts & Labour
South Congress - Austin, TX United StatesIt's amazing what it's possible to create, with the right parts and some labor. Oh yeah, talent helps too. Parts & Labour is a showcase of what's possible. Drawing completely from talented local artists and designers, the...
RAG
Hayes Valley - San Francisco, CA United StatesSan Francisco is not exactly known as a hot-bed of fashion design and production, but that doesn't mean there aren't still some talented designers eager to showcase their work. For these designers, there's RAG, or "Residents...
Robin Richman
Bucktown - Chicago, IL United StatesOther than a giant hanging ball of tumbleweed, Robin Richman looks like any other boutique in the boutique-laden neighborhood. So how are you supposed to know that inside are some of the most interesting and artful clothes in all of Chicago. Robin Richman collects avant-garde designers...
Rodan vs. Griffith
Third Street - Los Angeles, CA United StatesRodan vs Griffith is more like urban minimalism versus relaxed beach styling. Minimalism is obvious in the spot-on stylish clothing--cotton dresses with subtle details and soft basic tank-tops and shirts for women; classic blazers and woven button-downs for men; dark, fitted denim for all. The...
Show Pony
Echo Park - Los Angeles, CA United StatesAn unpretentious hipster closet is how we think of Show Pony. In a walk-in closet of a space are clothing, accessories and artwork from an intrepid group of local artists and designers. Racks overflow with jersey dresses, frilly tops made from...
Sir
Boerum Hill - Brooklyn, NY United StatesBetween the hot pink with flowers ultra-girly ensemble and the simplicity of the little black dress, the clothing of Sir is the perfect compromise. The store's eponymous collection features dresses, tops and suits that are both feminine and...
Sirens & Sailors
Echo Park - Los Angeles, CA United StatesWhile the work of local Los Angeles clothing designers is rather less high-style than their New York counterparts, for the hip, casual look LA is second to none. The clothing at Sirens & Sailors are perfect examples. Each season the store...
The Good The Bad and The Ugly
Nolita - New York, NY United StatesThe Good The Bad and The Ugly seems more a nod to the fashion of the times (the spaghetti western released in 1967) than to the content of the store. The store, stocked primarily with their own clothing and accessories labels, takes cues from...
The Kids Are Alright
Echo Park - Los Angeles, CA United StatesIf the kids aren't alright, they'll be just fine after picking up a few things from The Kids Are Alright. The quirky boutique offers a collection of hip, casual clothing for men and women alongside colorful jewelry, cute shoes and the...
Twenty Two Shoes
Rockridge - Oakland, CA United StatesThere are $500 shoes that look dated after one season and then there are shoes like those at Twenty Two that exude quality and have a classic, contemporary look at will age gracefully. The Oakland company has made a successful small business out...
Vagabond
Old City - Philadelphia, PA United StatesWith each city we visit, we're constantly impressed by the amount of local fashion talent just waiting to be discovered. For the city of Philadelphia, Vagabond is where all the interesting local wares seem to congregate. The eclectic...
Xin
Melrose Heights - Los Angeles, CA United StatesLest we think fashion is getting too serious or too self-important there's Xin, a shop that understands that sometimes a cute dress is quite enough. Xin's own label Issho is all about color, fun and femininity--a bright red blouse, a...