Curators

We'd probably all agree that visioning and creating a bag or a painting or a photo or a piece of music constitutes creating art on some level. But I'm going to take it further and say that creating a shop can also be creating art. And maintaining that shop is like curating an ongoing, ever-changing exhibit. 

Any type of shop that has a unique vibe, that strives to bring together a broad range of elements in a creative way, that makes me think of and desire objects in a new way and with a new appreciation is a well-curated shop.

Last week I gave some examples of unique menswear and denim shops: Liquor Store and Butcher of Blue. And this week I want to celebrate a few more shops that do more than shopkeep. Rather than simply sell loads of cheap manufactured crap, they are more selective, more innovative and therefore I consider them to be artisans.

Saffron and Genevieve is a shop curated by the lovely Scarlett Reed and based in Santa Cruz, California. And the sign shown at the top of the page was taken from her shop. (Love the sentiment Scarlett). 

Uncommon Objects is a shop in Austin, Texas curated largely by Steve Wiman and his staff of unique seekers including folks like Bruce and Julie Webb of Webb Gallery .

Stag is a menswear shop opening soon in Austin and curated by a group of talented guys including Steve Shuck (also known for his amazing shop - Mercury Design Studio), Bobby Johns, Joel Mozersky, Ted Allen, and Don Weir. Read more here.

Tumbleweed Boutique is a dress shop in Portland, Oregon curated by Kara Larson who got started by sewing dresses in her sister's garage. Kara designs a lovely line of dresses known as Kara-line which can be found at Tumbleweed along with a well-edited selection of jewlery, hand bags, slips, shoes, and items for home and garden.

There are many many more shops to list but these are a few favorites. The bottom line is this: these days its not about buying more but about buying more thoughtfully.

That's all for me today. Peace out,