THESE ARE THE DAYS when everything possible should be done outside. That certainly applies to fashion shows, which is why the fourth annual Alley 33 show takes place under the July sky, literally in the alley at SE 33rd next to Mag-Big, one of the event organizers. Owner Cassie Ridgway has been on fire as of late (and consequently appearing in these pages frequently), and Alley 33 will cap off a summer that has already seen her (along with design partner Becca Price) launch the biggest in-house Mag-Big collection to date, debut a plus-size line, deliver a lecture, and take on a two-week residency at the Museum of Contemporary Craft.
Despite all the various pressures chipping away at her time, Ridgway has put together a huge Alley 33 lineup with nearly 20 designers (some of whose work is pictured on this page) who fit the mold of what Ridgway calls "designer-manufacturers." It's a profile that has become increasingly important in the advocacy of buying local. The production of small runs of items allows greater control over costs, meaning that these designers create a more accessible mid-priced range of Portland-made clothing, which can be purchased right off the rack. Ridgway's credo has always been to make "reasonable clothes for reasonable people," and if the goal is to make local clothing as commonplace in our culture as local food, hers is a strategy that gets more of that clothing in more people's closets.
There is certainly a lot of room for development within this model, but it seems to be gaining traction. And for women who have perceived local fashion as something reserved for special occasions, Alley 33 makes a good argument for wearing local every day. Alley 33, Mag-Big, 3279 SE Hawthorne, Sat July 26, 7 pm, $10-12, all ages
• SaySay Boutique celebrates 10 years with a storewide sale for one day only (or find them on Facebook and RSVP for a preview sale on Thursday night). SaySay Boutique, 1010 SW Morrison, Fri July 25 (and register online for preview sale on Thurs July 24, 5-8 pm), 11 am-7 pm
• Foster Row is a new storefront and collaborative studio space opening in the Foster-Powell neighborhood, and tonight's grand opening will include open studios, music by DJ Big Booty Judy and Rick Klaras, drinks, small bites, films, and raffles. (Stay tuned for a pop-up that will launch the retail side on August 1.) Foster Row, 5300 SE Foster, Sat July 26, 7-10 pm
• The Rejuvenation and Portland Flea's Sunday Emporium lit up Instagrams across the city for its inaugural run, and now it's back with a slightly different rotation of vintage- and housewares-focused vendors. Rejuvenation, 1100 SE Grand, Sun July 27, 11 am-5 pm
