Before top fashion designers such as Calvin Klein and Donna Karan became household names, they had to get their start somewhere.
Now, rising stars in the fashion community have a better chance of getting their big break, thanks to Sugar Boutique in Lawrenceville and Luxx on the South Side, two stores that are dedicated to showcasing the wares of up-and-coming designers.
While both stores share the common goal of highlighting unique designs from independent artists, each shop has a strikingly different identity and design aesthetic.
Luxx
Step into Luxx on the South Side, and you are transported back in time to the swinging scene of 1960s London. One word best sums up the store's overall feel: mod.
The mod influence is reflective of store owner and fashion designer Jessica Sahene's design philosophy for both the appearance of the store and her own fashion designs.
"I really like the minimal design for the store, because it is very timeless," Sahene says. "It can be retro, modern or future."
Sahene, 32, a Hopewell Township native, and former business partner Erin Cunningham opened Luxx in 2002. After attending school for fashion design in New York and London, Sahene decided to return to Pittsburgh and open a shop that showcased the work of emerging fashion designers.
"I thought this was the best place to have an independent shop," she says. "As an independent local designer, I wanted to sell my clothing, as well as other people's."
Since the store's opening, Sahene's career and those of other up-and-coming designers have taken off. This year, Sahene showcased her designs at the Pool Show, a trade show for independent designers in Las Vegas, and has since sold her designs to five stores nationwide.
North Side-based designer Jennie Canning, 28, is a local emerging artist whose success story began by showcasing her designs at Luxx. Canning first showcased her fashion line, diondega, at Luxx several years ago, and now sells her clothing in major markets such as New York and Los Angeles.
Canning credits Luxx with helping to teach her about the business side of the fashion industry.
"Luxx is great," she says. "They have helped me figure so much out and encouraged me to push myself farther."
Luxx, 1003 E. Carson St., South Side, 412-381-6775 or www.luxxclothing.com.
Sugar Boutique
Sugar Boutique, in the heart of Lawrenceville's design zone, perfectly embodies the fusion of old and new that is characteristic of the neighborhood's ongoing gentrification.
The interior has an antique, bohemian feel, thanks to unique features such as more than 100-year-old wood floorboards, tin ceilings and bamboo clothing racks featuring vintage fabrics strung from wires.
"The concept behind the space is very organic," says Jamie Rivers, owner of Sugar Boutique. "I wanted to keep it very light, very non-cluttered, very clean."
This back-to-basics approach to design carries over into Rivers' merchandising philosophy. When Rivers, 30, a Cincinnati native, moved to Pittsburgh three years ago from Denver, she wanted to bring the laid-back, West Coast casual style to the women of Pittsburgh.
Rivers wanted to focus on pieces created by emerging designers, which complemented the store's location in the design zone perfectly.
"What appealed to me most was the handcrafted element," Rivers says. "I carry designers that are on the cusp of making it big and have been featured in magazines, to people who are just starting."
Rivers carries about 35 designers who manufacture everything from handbags and tops to T-shirts and jewelry, some of whose designs have been featured in Nylon and Elle magazines, Rivers says.
A new addition is Pittsburgh-based designer Ifat Shomrony, a native of Tel Aviv, Israel, who recently moved here from San Francisco. Shomrony will be creating distinctive items such as one-of-a-kind velvet wraps and silk-screened wool tweed separates.
"She's really a rising designer, a national rising designer, but based in Pittsburgh," Rivers says. "I think I found a little diamond in the rough here."
Rivers, whose background is in advertising, says she tries to make Sugar Boutique accessible to women of all ages and walks of life.
"I love to connect with women and share in my passion for uncovering the unknown and exposing talented designers," she says.
Sugar Boutique, 3703 Butler St., Lawrenceville, 412-681-5100 or www.sugarboutique.com .
Additional Information:
More info
'A Bazaar for Rising Fashion and Accessory Designers'What: Emerging designers will set up stations in the store where customers can customize certain items and shop for handmade and limited-edition clothing and accessories.
When: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 2 to 4
Where: Sugar Boutique, 3703 Butler St., Lawrenceville
Details: 412-681-5100
