If you’ve managed to swallow your nerves and venture out on the
retail front, you will have noticed that we are in the thick of one of
the greatest sale seasons of all time. After many retailers struggled
through a disappointing holiday season (thanks economy, thanks
Snowpocalypse), the deals are on fire even more than is usual
post-Christmas. So you know that a sale event like the PDX
Collective Sale, already notorious as an annual discount shopping
frenzy including the goods of over 10 boutiques, is going to contain
deals that might even qualify as once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
The usual suspects are participating again this year, offloading
everything to make room for spring: Le Train Bleu, Parts and
Labour, Shoefly, Nolita, Physical Element,
Bubble Boutique, Sameunderneath, Pin Me Apparel,
Moxie, Mimi and Lena, and Zella’s Shoes. It’s all
under one roof, for one day only, and cash is strongly preferred, so
hit the ATM and show up early. Another reason to be grateful: In other
cities they might charge admission to access prices slashed this low,
but not here. (The Cleaners at the Ace Hotel, 1022 SW Stark, Sun Jan
25, 11 am-6 pm, FREE)
Speaking of Sameunderneath, company founder Ryan Christensen has announced that he is leaving the company to become “brand
evangelist” of RYZ Wear. Sameunderneath (which recently
announced the closure of its second location on NW 23rd) has always
striven to be more than a clothing line, and Christensen was one of the
early adopters of a “green” approach to running a clothing company.
Additionally, the name “Sameunderneath” also underscored the message he
tried to spread using the line, a somewhat hazy (isn’t marketing
always?) message of goodwill across social and economic boundaries. The
company will continue under the ownership of local apparel company LFI,
which acquired the company in September.
RYZ Wear is a locally based sneaker company that uses
“crowdsourcing” to determine its designs. Essentially, they create a
template of a sneaker, which is then embellished by artists and
designers, and the rendition that is voted most popular by members of
the RYZ community goes into production. (We reported earlier on the
RYZ’s debut contest [“A Caveman Who Loves Shoes?” Sold Out, July 10,
2008], in which well-respected graffiti writer Jason Ehlers [AKA
Caveman] won the inaugural honor.) In a statement, Christensen promised
to “bring my own grassroots and guerilla-style marketing to help build
a brand that is more than just fashion and footwear, and moves into
something experiential for both the brand and its customers.” Hit
mod.portlandmercury.com for a Q & A with Christensen and updates on the future of both
brands.