May 21, 2012

Custom Garments by Local Designers at Hello by Candystore Collective

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During a visit earlier this week to new Pacific Heights boutique Hello by Candystore Collective, we learned that the second San Francisco store from owner Jennifer Jones does more than just stock local brands. Along with Bay Area labels such as Serial Cultura and accessories by 1228 and Jene Despain, the spacious and almost-entirely-white shop offers visitors the opportunity to order custom garments directly from Stars + Ravens designer Sarah Borruso using the label’s lookbook.

While a small selection of Stars + Ravens garments hang from the racks, Jones points out that it can be difficult for emerging designers to reach customers without absorbing the cost of producing an entire line, one that retail buyers may or may not choose to pick up and offer to their customers. She hopes offering what she dubs “modern San Francisco couture” to Hello shoppers will benefit both designers looking to expand their reach and consumers seeking unique pieces. While Jones prefers to stay mum for the moment on other designers that may soon offer their lines at the shop in this way, she reports that she’s currently in discussions with some “very exciting” local labels and that their clothes will be “wearable pieces that are really special and made locally.”

Other reasons to visit this shop? Casual shoes by Marais USA, inventive accessories from Candace Ang, separates from Lorick and offerings from Hyden Yoo’s very first women’s collection.

See it in person at 2226 Bush St.

Learn more about Stars + Ravens in our previous coverage.

More San Francisco fashion news

From Couture to Eco-Conscious: Linda Loudermilk at Clary Sage Organics

2009_Fiss.LindaLoudermilk-4515Clary Sage Organics treated San Francisco to a special visit from Los Angeles designer Linda Loudermilk on Thursday and taught us a thing or two about being eco-chic.

“When you get your inspiration from nature, it doesn’t look contrived,” Loudermilk says.

After achieving success on the Paris runways, Loudermilk switched gears in 2002 to develop what many credit as the world’s first eco-friendly luxury apparel line, and we’re certainly happy she did.

Now, seven years later, we just can’t get enough of her sustainable apparel (see the fall collection), made of innovative fabrics from plants such as bamboo and soy and manufactured using environmentally sound practices and fair labor standards.

Along with Linda Loudermilk, Clary Sage Organics carries environmentally-minded San Francisco fashion labels such as Mr. Larkin and Turk + Taylor, as well as its own collection of super soft organic yoga apparel designed by store co-owners Patti Cazzato and Daniel Kalish.

– SF Indie Fashion Contributor Michelle Ruiz

[Photo: Loudermilk, center, chats with a guest at Thursday’s trunk show event. Photo courtesy of Noami Fiss Photography]