Archive for September, 2009
I was very happy to have randomly discovered this amazing New Zealand boutique, Children of Vision. Their philosophy, which is listed on their main page, is to be, “…fearless supporters of all that is avant garde, intellectual, and unusual”. While I recognized a few names like Bernhard Willhelm, A’N’D’, c. neeon, complexgeometries, Daniel palillo, Peter Jensen, Hansel from Basel, and Makin Jan Ma there were quite a few I haven’t heard of yet and I find that exciting. Of course seeing as that is the main focus of the blog! Any online or brick-and-mortar that supports quality independent designers is well deserving of promotion and support too!
They seem to rotate their stock pretty frequently, so it’s a site that merits frequent visits. They do ship internationally, although you will have to do the currency conversion yourself as everything is in New Zealand dollars.
Silver cast bottle cap necklace: $75
Cotton crochet and cast brass key necklace: $70
Cotton crochet and brass ring necklace: $65
Silver cast necklace: $110
Cast brass earrings: $50
Cotton crochet and cast brass bracelet: $45
Speaking of simplicity, Erin Considine’s crochet and metal necklaces rework simple materials into delicate embellishments. Really stunning, unfussy pieces. I wish there was more information on her design philosophy and process, but I can settle with just admiring her pieces. Be sure to click through to her site to see the pieces worn and at a larger scale. Again, you can click the images here to view them larger
pinata: $145; necklace: $190; pinata: $135
How’s this for cool? (Ok, not the horrible Flash the site it’s built on.) CONFETTISYSTEM is a project by Brooklyn based Nicholas Andersen and Julie Ho focused on the creation of objects made from simple materials like tissue paper, silk, cardboard, and leather. CONFETTISYSTEM has done installation related work for clothing shops like Assembly and Opening Ceremony and clothing labels like United Bamboo, but they also participate in art exhibitions.
I love the simple, pretty silk and leather necklaces, but the piñatas are just plain awesome. Everything is handmade including the confetti inside the piñatas. I wish the directional arrows in the Catalogue, Shop, and Projects sections weren’t broken because there seems to be plenty more of their work to be seen.
Remember to click any image in this post to enlarge it
My finds at Frances May!
Believe it or not, but it took me almost my entire week here in Portland to realize that just on the opposite side of the block that the Ace is in there was a boutique bursting with some of my favourite labels, notably Rachel Comey. I’m not completely oriented here even though we’ve been walking and riding public transportation everywhere. I spotted Comey’s Metalsmith’s dress in the window of Frances May when I happened to glance out of the bus window and knew I had to stop in.
Well, today I did and am I ever glad I did. The selection is fantastic and skillfully edited, and Ashley who was watching over the shop while we were there was amazing. Portlanders, you are some of the nicest people I’ve met yet. I’ve been nothing but continually impressed with how friendly and open everyone is and it’s been an utter joy to shop here. Ashley gave us the scoop on Portland (her family has lived in Portland for four generations!), cool places to visit (including other clothing boutiques), and we even got to have a laugh over our dairyland, my dear diary, and livejournal histories.
Aside from lots of great pieces from Rachel Comey, I spotted items from Clu, A.P.C., Vena Cava, Bodkin, Mociun, Lover, Duskin, YMC, and many others. The coolest part about Frances May is that it’s owned by Brooklyn art school graduate Pamela Baker-Miller and her grandmother, Connie Codding. Fantastic, no?
I know I’ve stumbled over the website a few times in the past, but it got lost in my bookmarks and I’m ever so glad to have rediscovered it. Brannan and I both found some fantastic pieces on the sales rack, and I got to try on the Metalsmith’s dress for future consideration-hee. Again this is another really special boutique in Portland that needs to be added to everyone’s regular bookmarks. Don’t forget all that you can enlarge the photos by simply clicking on them!
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