Get ready for another coolstuff market!
Plus 3 new shops AND 3 weekend shopping pop-ups to whet your whistle
This week we’re announcing our next coolstuff market(!!!), featuring THREE cool new shops, highlighting weekend pop-ups and introducing you to our cool friend: Kelly Wang of Rue Saint Paul.
Esse Taco
Chef Enrique Olvera just debuted a vibrant, new taqueria in Williamsburg called Esse Taco. The new spot brings authenticity and originality to the neighborhood & captures the essence of Mexico City’s taco traditions. Guests eat over large barrels in the bright, colorful space, where fresh masa is pressed by hand into tortillas. Stop by for tacos with classic fillings like ribeye steak, citrus-marinated grilled chicken thigh and al pastor pork loin - open now at 219 Bedford Ave.
Photo by Natalie Black
Old Jewelry Flagship Store
Sarah Burns’ chic jewelry store, Old Jewelry, is now open at its newest flagship location at 75 East Broadway, in the Mall under the Manhattan Bridge. Two years ago, after a year of hosting fully-booked appointments in their Ridgewood apartment, Burns and her partner Adam Caillier opened their first retail space (also at 75 East Broadway) and the store quickly became a beloved destination for vintage and contemporary jewelry. The new spot, still in the mall, is down the hall and double the size, full of original furniture, mirrors, lighting, and spotlights on different contemporary jewelers.
Nickey Kehoe
One of our all time fave design shops in LA, Nickey Kehoe, has graced us with their presence in NYC. The new shop in the East Village at 49 E. 10th Street is now open and they’ve brought all of their gorgeous interior goodies with them. Stop by and let us know what inspired you most!
thankyouhaveagoodday
Brooklyn cool-kid clothing brand, thankyouhaveagoodday, just added a new address to their growing shop list with an appointment-only showroom space in Nolita at 217 Mott Street. tyhagd’s new location is warm, welcoming and gives room to show off their handmade and one-of-a-kind pieces. Send them a message to set up viewing and see the new shop over a cup of coffee.
Mark your calendars…it’s time for another coolstuff curated market!
Hester Street Fair is hosting their 9th annual "Girl Power" market on June 1st, which highlights female makers, chefs & small-business owners in NYC…and we're lucky enough to be curating a section of the market!
Right in the center of the market, the coolstuff selection will house 12 female vendors selling everything from ceramics to pickles to vintage.
Some of the makers and small business owners that will be selling their wares in our section are also past cool friends! You can shop from cool friends Alice Mushrooms, Jordan Sondler, Ordinary Habit, Bowl Cut, Hansel Clothing PLUS new friends that we can’t wait for you to meet.
Stop by on June 1st from 11a-7p in Seaport at 89 South St for allll the shopping and hangs with the coolstuff team.
The Level Up Project’s registration is officially open for their upcoming series of virtual, long-form courses. The classes are designed to support mid-career creatives in leveling up their skills outside of traditional educational models and are led by an informal network of creators & entrepreneurs, who share a commitment to expanding access to our fields of design & craft. All courses are offered within a redistributive and sliding-scale pricing model. Head to their site to learn more about the classes and sign up now!
Looking to elevate your next event? Quite Nice, started by Kelly Johnson, provides vintage/secondhand event/prop rentals, styling, and sourcing services. Connect over objects from the past and create your next gathering with sustainability in mind. Check out their ever growing inventory here.
Get in touch at HI@QUITENICE.STUDIO or on IG, TikTok.
Meet Kelly, owner of the sustainable clothing shop, Rue Saint Paul. Located on Carroll Gardens’ famous Court St, Rue Saint Paul offers rentals and pre-loved clothing and is even committed with a seasonal buy-back program. We caught up with Kelly to hear how she put her stamp on the circular fashion community in Brooklyn.
How did your career in fashion begin?
Fashion was NOT a career path I even remotely considered. I grew up in a very STEM oriented family (my dad is a molecular biologist, my mom is a civil engineer, and my brother is a doctor) and I worked in Finance before launching Rue Saint Paul. It only took me a decade in the wrong career to learn that I am actually a very visually and spatially oriented person who thrives on creativity, big ideas, and building things. I have spent the last six years nurturing that by building Rue Saint Paul. I am particularly drawn to fashion, because it is such a powerful form of communication and self-expression; a way to show the world who you are without saying a thing. I’ve been an introvert my entire life and clothing has always given me a sense of identity and courage that words sometimes cannot. I love being able to share that power with my community.
Tell us about your sustainable fashion shop, Rue Saint Paul!
The shop is rooted in circularity and sustainability. We call ourselves Brooklyn’s sustainable closet because we are the only independent store in the city where you can discover new sustainable brands, rent, and sell/buy used indie brands all under one roof. I started the brand online in 2018 and opened our first brick and mortar store in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn in 2020.
Since I didn’t study fashion, I learned everything about the industry (good and bad) along the way of building RSP. And there are a LOT of bad, in terms of impact to the planet and labor practices. I struggled a lot with how to have a clothing store that was not contributing to the existing problems in the industry, because the truth is that we cannot shop our way into being more sustainable. At one point I even thought about shutting it all down, because the idea of just selling things, even if they were made sustainably or ethically, didn’t seem good enough. I thought a lot about the kind of business that I wanted to build and ultimately conceived of a space where there is more than one way to consume fashion. I always say that if you need something to wear, your own closet should always be your first go-to. If you still need something, consider swapping or renting (where we come in). And if you must buy, consider thrifting (again, where we come in). And lastly if you must buy new, choose a brand that is producing in a way that is responsible to the planet and people (us, again). The ultimate idea is to offer our community more responsible and conscious alternatives to big box fast fashion.
What’s your favorite part about the New York sustainable fashion community?
The energy and resources in this community are beyond comparison. On any day of the week, there is always something going on, be it mending clubs, closet swaps, seminars, book launches, panels, fashion shows, etc. It is truly the best place in the world to meet sustainable fashion enthusiasts be it students, professors, activists, brands, non-profits, or entrepreneurs.
How do you discover sustainable brands to stock in your shop?
When I first started it was a lot of research and cold emails asking if brands wanted to wholesale to us. Since we are very particular about which brands we bring into the store (they must align with at least several of our ten sustainable values), doing due diligence on brands took a lot of time. Now that people know our shop and values, we get a lot of inbounds from new brands wanting to be stocked at the store. I wish we had more space because there are so many amazing brands out there!
Do you have a favorite new brand right now?
Kow Tow is a brand from New Zealand that I am absolutely obsessed about. They have been around for some time, but it is one of the brands that is truly committed to people and the planet. All their garments are made farm to body in fair trade organic cotton. They recently made their entire collection (from buttons to thread) plastic free. They are also very size inclusive. I just love them!
Reclaim Creative is a newer brand we discovered out of Knoxville, Tennessee. They take vintage Appalachian quilts and turn them into stunning garments and accessories. It is truly circular fashion at its best!
Follow Along:
@ruesaintpaul
www.ruestpaul.com
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