Photograph by Ashley Heifner

(page 8 of 9)

Garment District – Washington Avenue

Along Washington Avenue, the old garment-district ethos is alive again as more and more boutiques and showrooms dedicate themselves to trendy fashions and the art of home décor. Park inside the U.S. Bank garage, across from America’s Center, and stop at the Starbucks [1] at Eighth and Washington if you need a pick-me-up after navigating the garage lot—or Breve [2], an Internet coffee shop on 10th near Locust, if you need to check your bank statement online before a day of indulgence.
 
Now walk down Washington toward 11th until Paper Dolls [3] comes into sight. A hot new boutique, Paper Dolls carries a little bit of everything, from the funky to the classic. Co-owner Carolyn Burghoff emphasizes global style with hand-painted Argentinean skirts by Macu and hand-beaded clothing by Spy Exchange of Canada.

Across from Paper Dolls is Lee J. Fashions [4]. With its deliberately urban style, Lee J. presents male and female shoppers with offerings by mainstream designers they will recognize, like Kenneth Cole and Allen B., but chooses the most distinctive pieces in the collections to guarantee originality. Farther down 11th,
Circles, Etc. [5] replaces fem-inine frills with arty apparel by Anac and Westin Wear and mass-produced accessories with artwork and jewelry by local artists such as Nancy Davis.

If your inner decorator’s restless, head next to UMA [6], which carries nothing mass-produced. UMA’s home goods, including some gorgeously intricate lamps, have clean lines and bright colors to accent any room. Across the street, Salt of the Earth’s [7] handpainted Italian dishes and imported vases suggest Mediterranean or tropical sunshine, not the fluorescent light of retail. If your stomach’s growling starts to interfere with your decorating decisions, head to Kitchen K [8], a restaurant that offers creative cuisine and an industrial-chic ambience.

To segue from lunch back to shopping, stop at Casa Semplice [9] on 10th, where kitchen appliances’ function is never sacrificed to form. The only Bosch dealer in the area, Casa Semplice caters to the space-conscious by offering well-made products that are multifunctional—as well as designer lines from Jonathan Adler, Eva Solo and Nigella Lawson.

If a grander renovation is what you have in mind, head to Niche [10]. A gallery and showroom, Niche not only provides contemporary products for purchase, such as those by Knoll and Herman Miller, but also showcases them to give you great ideas for home decorating.

Also check out Blend’s [11] eclectic mix, combining classic wooden pieces with modern art and furniture. Featuring custom-made steelwork by one of the owners, John Beck, and other artists, Blend combines local craftsmanship with antiques from all over the country.

Hungry? Meet a friend at Copia [12], an urban winery and market that offers great food and wine of the quality you’d find in Napa. Buy a bottle of one of their many house wines as a souvenir of the experience. Just try not to drink it on the way home.