Every week I fill this space with news from Portland’s small
boutiques and designers, and many of the people who read it aspire to
become part of this community. Publications like WWD are
the trade papers for fashion commerce and design, but its stories
concentrate on the major playing fields, where huge sums change hands
and featured designers approach rock star status. There’s little
connection for smaller shops and fledgling designers (or those desiring
to join their ranks) who are looking for advisement.
Andi
Koegler, the editor-in-chief and publisher of a new glossy called
Changing Room, aims to fill this void. Premiering this
week, Changing Room‘s first issue covers the entire Northwest
region (with other parts of the country to follow). The subject matter
should be interesting reading for even the casually curious—after
all, this part of the country is populated with innovators of style,
design, and business models. Liza Rietz, featured in the first
issue, is one such example. Less than a year ago she joined up with
John Blasioli to open a studio and store that serves as a
workplace, showroom, and boutique for their unique designs. Their
arrangement is a great example of breaking form and arranging their
businesses according to their own needs.
The rest of the content, as described by Koegler, “will cover spring
trends locally and nationally. It will have content on how to reinvent
yourself as a business owner or designer so that you can stay relevant
in the market. The premiere issue will also profile several great
regional designers and boutiques, such as Rachel Mara,
Impulse, and many others. You’ll be able to pick up a copy at
boutiques across the region, and in Portland you can find them at
Souchi, Mabel and Zora, Physical Element, the
Ace Hotel, and the Art Institute of Portland, just to
name a few.” (tcrmagazine.com)
Speaking of regional boutiques, a number of shops are getting
together this weekend for Bargain Hunting 101—a giant
clearance sale taking over the Kennedy School, where you can stop for
drinks and food in between bargain scores. Participating businesses
include: Collage, Gypsy Chic, Sofia, Olio
United, Stylin’ Echo, Sofada, Frock,
Foundation Garments, Ella’s, Garnish, The
Monkey and the Rat, Knot Ugly Designs, Pin-Me
Apparel, Mink Boutique, Mabel and Zora,
Digs, Poppy and Ivy, and Origin. (Kennedy
School, 5736 NE 33rd, Sun Feb 3, noon-4 pm)