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New Today! Olivine Online

Julie Wray tells us why her beloved Ballard shop closed, and why she’s bringing it back

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Mar 11, 2010 at 06:30AM Speech Bubble 2 Comments

Slideshow: What you’ll find at the brand new Olivine Online (here, Prairie Underground; Olivine has always been a prime outlet for the beloved local line)

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When Olivine closed its Ballard Ave doors in the summer of 08, you could pretty much hear hearts breaking all over the city. Women loved that store. The clothes were feminine, but they were easy. The vibe was low-key, but not ordinary. You could go there and leave with something special. Seattle was really sad to see it go.

But then Olivine owner Julie Wray popped back up at Show Pony in Fremont, and all was right in the world. Recently, however, she sold the shop, and again, I keep having that conversation with people, What happened to Julie?

Well, she’s back — as of today. Shopolivine.com joins la-rousse.com in that small but one-can-only-expect-growing category of brick and mortars-gone-digital. If you like to shop in front of your laptop and you also like to shop local, you’re in luck.

Here’s the scoop:

Wear What When: Seattle women loved it so… why you decide to close Olivine?

Julie Wray: Great question! The real deal is that I was tired of owning a retail store that required so much in the way of travel, employees, inventory etc. I had just recently gotten married and we were getting ready to get pregnant. After 16 years of owning retail stores and being single I was ready to prepare my life for a family! It just so happened that I closed Olivine before the recession hit, so I got to leave on a high note. Business was always good at Olivine from the day we opened.

WWW: And what about Show Pony? Just when they thought they had you back …

JW: Show Pony was supposed to be my version of a pop-up shop! My intention was to only be open for a year. It surprised me that it ended up doing as well as it did, so I thought it would be better to sell it instead, and I found the perfect person to take it over.

WWW: Olivine online launches today. What do you love about being online-only and what scares you about it?

JW: Selling online will be a totally new challenge for me and I am so excited about it. I started and ran four successful retail locations, but I don’t know anything about selling online! I love a challenge… I have very little overhead now so there is a lot more freedom to offer little perks. We’ll be doing: Free same-day delivery in Seattle, one-day only pop-up shops around town, and private in home parties starting in the fall. And of course, It gives me the freedom to relax and enjoy my business and my family! The huge bonus for me is that I get to work from home and watch my beautiful seven week old baby grow up!

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Tags: Locally Made, Accessories, new, Locally Designed, Online Shopping, Health and Beauty

What's in Store

Shop Class

The Field House presents free Sunday workshops

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Mar 04, 2010 at 10:30AM Speech Bubble 3 Comments

A felting class led by upcoming Blackbird instructress Ashley Halvey

While on a Sunday afternoon expedition aimed at procuring vintage flannels, American-made loafers, and rustic/now-wave housewares at Field House in Ballard, you might find yourself getting schooled.

Field House/Blackbird proprietress Nicole Miller is accepting students for four one-day workshops in the month of March.

Here’s a quick pass at what’s being offered; all courses are FREE and begin at 3p.

SUNDAY, MARCH 7
Wine of Piedmont, Italy: Culture and Tasting with Michael Teer of Pike and Western Wine Shop and western/

SUNDAY, MARCH 14
Bike Maintenance and Preparation with model employee Tyler Johnson

SUNDAY, MARCH 21
Age-Old Wet Felting Techniques with Ashley Halvey.

Here’s where (as far as I’m concerned, things really get good.) I met Halvey, a recent transplant from LA and SF who basically defines the nexus of art and style, via Totokaelo where her simple, elegant, of-the-earth necklaces are now sold.

Ashley

Felted wall hanging by Seattle artist Ashley Helvey

Her line of sustainable, all-natural, traditionally produced felted rugs is called Danken. With these pieces, and with collaborations with ubercool Iko Iko in LA and Creatures of the Wind, Halvey’s craft goes beyond beauty to include global perspectives on history, culture, and the environment.

And then you gotta love the opportunity to sit around with some of Seattle’s sharpest style minds and apply elbow patches and tidy up old sweaters. Check out the last class in the March line-up:

SUNDAY, MARCH 28
Mend & Measure: Save money, save your favorite garment, consume less with Blackbird’s owner and resident needle-wielders Lauren Wang and Sue Weibler

As Miller points out, “in the old U.S. Navy, sailors had one day a month called ‘Mend & Measure’ where they were excused from their duties to launder and repair their clothes.” Let’s see Petraeus bring that one back.

Blackbird’s owner, who learned the art and craft of darning and repair work from her Grandmother, suggests you bring anything from* tattered socks to jeans and buttonless shirts.* The Blackbird team can help you figure out the best way to approach each repair job because really, the motivation and fuel for task completion is often found inside the group effort and community vibe. Attendees can bring mending supplies or share ones brought by the instructors.

Email info (at) blackbird.com for more information, or call 206-297-6093

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Tags: Locally Made, how to, heritage brands, Ballard, Workshops

Wedding Wednesday

Keep on Trunkin’

Trunk shows and meet-and-greets for vintage-lovin’ brides-to-be: March 6, March 11, March 13, March 20th

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Mar 03, 2010 at 02:00PM Speech Bubble 0 Comments

Join vintage-inspired vendors at Gossamer Collective on March 20 for a day of collaboration, inspiration, and champagne

WHEN Thursday March 11 5p-8p
WHERE Velouria on the Hill
WHY It’s an Art Walk celebration; join Portland photographer Misha Ashton and Jen Carrigan of Violet Magpie as she unveils (literally!) her new-for-spring hair pieces, all fashioned with feathers, headbands, and vintage delights.
COST FREE; treats and refreshments served

WHEN Saturday March 13 6p-9p
WHERE Velouria Ballard
WHY: Same as above; Tes at Velouria is hosting one Violet Magpie trunk show at her Ballard store and one at her shop on Melrose Ave.

Violet_magpie3 Photo: Rosemary Photography

One of the new spring pieces by Violet Magpie

WHEN Saturday, March 20 12p-6p
WHERE Gossamer Collective
WHY So you can mix and mingle with like-minded and self-professed budget friendly wedding industry pros (lovers of vintage style, retro romancers, crafty can-do types). Maybe you’ll meet a partner-in-collaboration, maybe you’ll book a couple of vendors, maybe you’ll leave feeling fully inspired.
COST $8 (Special Gift with entry) Champagne will be served.
WHO Vendors include: Rosemary Photography, Orange Twist Cards, Jennifer Witsil Creative, Jenny Bowker, Pretty Little Photos, Rebekah J Designs, Stylus Seattle: Hair and Nails,

ALSO: The next Last Waltz vintage sale is THIS SATURDAY MARCH 6, also, as always, at Gossamer Collective (the old Last Waltz space). Look for pretty dresses and more for rehearsal dinner, the honeymoon, and, you know, married life.

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Tags: Weddings, Locally Made, Accessories, vintage, Locally Designed, vendors, Trunk Show, Party

Wedding Wednesday

Let’s Get RE Sourceful

Free workshop at RE Store helps brides and grooms get crafty

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Mar 03, 2010 at 07:20AM Speech Bubble 0 Comments

Slideshow: Create cake platters, candlestick centerpieces, ring boxes, name card displays, and more at RE Store’s Salvage Bride workshop on March 13

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Got crafty designs on your wedding day decor but feeling unsure about sourcing materials, operating a screwdriver, and/or achieving an Amy Atlas-like ultraperfect atmosphere?

First, drop the notion of ultraperfect. It’s just not useful, or fun. Second, RSVP for Salvage Bride, a workshop led by the expert recycling-crazy repurposers at RE Store on Saturday March 13 from 10a – 2p.

Leading the day o’ DIY is Rachel Bair, RE Store’s shop manager and a June bride. She’s also the unofficial Project Lady. People come to her with “what if this?” and “how would I do that?,” so as she began plotting the decor projects that would lend personality and memorable details to her own big day, she figured she should use her employer’s light-filled second-floor classroom space to share resources and ideas with other engaged folk and party people.

Salvage Bride is intended to help you find and transform previously used materials into cake stands, candelabras, cool signage, name card displays, and really, anything your ceremony or reception requires.

Check the slideshow here for some projects that Bair was elbow deep in on the day I met up with her, and then email sarahk (at) re-store.org to reserve your spot on the 13th.

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Tags: Design, Weddings, reception, Locally Made, vintage, how to, experts, Ballard, Workshops

Retail News

Fashioning Forward

Built for Man’s runway show and David Lawrence’s Bravern debut

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Mar 02, 2010 at 07:50AM Speech Bubble 0 Comments

Photo: Adam Sheppard

Slideshow: On the Runway with Built for Man

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Recently, just about every buyer from Seattle’s big, small, important, and influential shops watched as Peruvian-made, hand-loomed, handknit scarves, sweaters, and ponchos as well as dress shirts with old-world, gentlemanly accessories added up to a global yet local, aspirational but wearable collection of menswear for neo-Gothic Nomads.

Built for Man’s Francisco Hernandez refuses to believe that Seattle is anything other than a city on a fashion ascendancy. As he put it to me a few days after the show, “We are for real, we are here, we are not Paris, we are not New York, we are Seattle.”

The Built for Man creative force speaks softly and patiently, with an understated urgency. He has lofty goals that include showcasing fashion in the traditional parlor setting (in Seattle no less), and upgrading local dudes to neo-tuxedo shirts, capes, and corvatts. “Passionate” doesn’t begin to describe it.

And considering the line’s back story — the house of BfM mindfully and respectfully makes good use of traditional talents and craftsmanship in Peru, employing and sustaining endangered communities — the odd elements (arm warmers, bare feet, man-ponchos) only add to the curious attraction.

“Curious” would be a good way to describe the line’s buzz. Despite not having a ton of retail representation, just about everyone in Seattle’s style circles has heard of BfM. You’ve maybe read a little about it here and here. And if you’ve seen passersby in one of those ponchos (they call them unkus), you didn’t soon forget it.

But what will it take to boost Built for Man to that sweet spot of creative symbiosis that Hernandez so passionately believes in?

Some more solid stockists would help.

Which brings us back to the buyers in attendance last week. Veridis and David Lawrence have been key retailers for Built to Man this year. With the latter’s move (he left Bell Square — do the kids still call it that?? — but will keep his Downtown Seattle location) to The Bravern this week, one can only expect that Hernandez’s expectations are high.

Directional style does love good company, and snuggled in around Neiman Marcus, Hermes, and racks of stylized raw denim is not a bad place to be.

Flip through the slideshow here as an introduction or update to Built to Man, and then plan to visit David Lawrence at the Bravern soon - if for no other reason than to see how many different corvatts are on offer.

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Tags: Locally Made, Capitol Hill, Locally Designed, Fall/Winter, menswear