Shop News: January 2012

January shop news for the Twin Cities area

Ship & Shape is a new online shop dedicated to handmade goods by indie designers.

Image credit: Courtesy Ship & Shape

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Shop News: December 2011

By: Mary O'Regan |   January 2012   |  From the print edition

Intelligent design

Many Twin Cities shops sell items by local designers, but few carry only Minnesota-made merchandise. One of the first to do so was Design Collective, an eclectic clothing, accessories and gift shop in Uptown. Fashion designers Anita Jensen and Jay Nelson bought the store in October from Christina Nguyen (who left to start Hola Arepa, a seasonal food truck). “We need to get Design Collective back to fashion,” says Jensen, who, with Nelson, makes swimwear for competitive bodybuilders. The business partners met while studying fashion design at the University of Wisconsin– Stout and plan to invite former classmates and up-and-comers to start selling alongside more established brands like Christopher Straub, Hackwith Design House and Frances Zerr. “We have many stay-at-home moms or designers who were recently laid off selling at the shop,” Jensen says. “One designer is in 10th grade—she’s amazing!” 1311 W. 26th St., Mpls.; 612.377.1000; design
collectivempls.com

Tip-top shape

Not planning on leaving the house ‘til May? No problem. You can still get your fix of locally designed fashion, décor and accessories through Ship & Shape, a new online shop dedicated to handmade goods by indie designers. Minneapolis jeweler Annika Kaplan, graphic designer Maddy Nye and jewelry/product designer Erin Smith came up with the idea to open Ship & Shape last summer while boating on Lake Minnetonka. They wanted to create an intimate virtual world where they could sell their own creations as well as wares by fellow independent artists like Annie Larson of ALL Knitwear, fashion designer and Voltage alum Rachel Blomgren and Crystal Quinn of Ina Grau Shoes. A new batch of merchandise will be unveiled Jan. 15 just in time for Valentine’s Day; otherwise, collections are released quarterly, with the next round scheduled for April. shipandshape.com

Chairs, tables and beds, oh my!

Watch out, Ikea—another mass-market, wallet-friendly home furnishings store is on the rise. CB2, the less-expensive sibling of Crate & Barrel, has opened a two-story storefront in Uptown’s Calhoun Square. Clocking in at 14,200 square feet, the retailer’s first Minnesota location has a distinctly modern exterior with diamond-shaped steel siding and an outdoor patio. Inside, customers will find contemporary furniture and décor, much of which is designed for smaller spaces (hear that, apartment dwellers?). Pick up a couch for as little as $899, a floor lamp for $179 or a patterned pillow for $39.95. 3045 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.; 612.821.9303; cb2.com