For the Holidays: Think Global, Shop Local

2007 is coming to a close and that means year end celebrations. For some, it’s football, football, football. For others, it’s travel and family. My favorite is all the year end “Best of…” lists that swarm the internet, various music publications, and your local NPR station. But for most, it is buying gifts for the various holidays that bookend this time of year. If giving is a big part of your year end diet, New Raleigh has a few of shopping recommendations that won’t burn your wallet but will give money to some local businesses that serve up swanky, funky and all around great local gifts and services.
Downtown Raleigh lacks much retail in proper downtown (proper being the planned area), but says that it’s next on the agenda. What that may mean is Gap, Borders, and any of the other big corporations that litter the suburbs planting large retail stores in place of older buildings. While these would probably be a great addition to downtown via variety and economics, it will drive out many of the local businesses that have thrived for years and others who have just got their start in the past couple of years and are starting to thrive. So instead of going for the easy choice in the corporate maze that is Crossroads Shopping Center, pop into one of the many independent downtown businesses to buy your gifts this season.

Father and Son Antiques featuring Southern Swank

Father and Son Antiques has been a downtown staple for years and continues to thrive despite the lack of supporting retail downtown. Adaptability is key in the retail industry and Father and Son understands this attitude. Like your Selfridge’s and Macy’s, Father and Son continually changes their storefront to reflect a trend, a season, or simply a color. Father and Son is more of a retro shop than it is an antique shop, selling modern furniture, 70s vinyl, and colorful 80s sunglasses. It is the type of shop to look for a New Year’s or Christmas party outfit in. The store is comprised of four floors, each one dedicated to a slightly different retail slant, again mirroring a classic department store’s layout. At one point, there were artist studios on the second and third floor and bands have been known to play in the basement. Currently, the second floor is dedicated to vintage clothing. The clothes are cheap, in great shape, and are anything but boring. There is even a full rack of early 80s prom jackets, complete with ruffles and pastel colors.

Recently, Southern Swank opened a small nuevo-retro store in the long slender space behind the front counter on the main floor. Southern Swank was previously located in the warehouse building that currently hosts the restaurant Five Star and bar/club West Side Stories. After almost a year sharing this space with a tattoo artist, Southern Swank made a deal with Father and Son to relocate into their building, sharing space and much needed traffic. Swank’s merchandise is a bit “sideshow culture” and a bit “high-class kitsch.” From Bacon Wallets to Kamibashi String Dolls (which I highly recommend) to various retro tattoo and car books, Southern Swank covers the kitsch category from one end to the other. Most of the gifts are cheap and small which is great for the shopper with a tight budget and global concern for junk-space. The workers at Father and Son and Southern Swank are very friendly and helpful, so stop in for some Swankarama this Holiday Season! For more info and photos see their myspace page.

Stitch Bags by Holly Aiken

Behind The Rockford and Catch 22 on Glenwood Avenue is a small shop with a big reputation. Holly Aiken graduated from the School of Design at NC State and has been making bags, wallets, coasters, wine bags, and ornaments for the Raleigh urbanites for a couple of years. Her shop, Stitch, is small, but bags are stacked to the ceiling. Various colors, styles and shapes are available just behind the old brick wall that fortunately has a roll-up garage doors for those hot summer days.

Over the past few years, Holly’s designs have started to spread. It seems that one can’t go for an evening out in Raleigh, whether downtown or beyond, without seeing one of her bags on the shoulder of a couple of people. These bags are no longer only a Raleigh style but are available throughout the state and in various other locations in the country. I have even popped into shops in Wilmington and Charlotte and discovered Holly’s bags on the shelves, most of the time almost sold out. Stitch has become a staple in the area but has yet to lose its love of local designers. Currently they have on display jeans by Verses, jewelry by Kinda Kist and shoes by Firefly (whose Glenwood Store recently closed and will soon be a bar called Brooklyn Heights). Also, similar to Father and Son, Stitch understands the idea of change. Each year, the designs on the bag adapt to colors that are hip in color, shapes and styles that the market demands. Adaptable without losing its sense of self, Stitch is a great place to buy that large bag you’ve always wanted for your laptop or a small stylish clutch purse for your niece who demands everything must be pink, pink, pink. Who needs a cheap bag from Urban Outfitters that will last a year and go out of style just as quickly? Not Raleigh.

Brand Fandango at Designbox

Since relocating from South Bloodworth Street to West Martin Street in Downtown Raleigh this year, Designbox has been leading the cultural revolution in the warehouse district. With Sparkcon, various First Friday shows and now their pop-up shop Brand Fandango, they keep traffic moving through the west end. The front gallery has been turned into a shop where you can buy gifts including art, cds, jewelry, clothing, and coffee, all of which are created locally. So, if you are looking for less swank and more funk, stop in and support local artists and the downtown economy. Below is a list of some of the artists and products that are currently available at Brand Fandango. Also, after the list is a handful of other local business that New Raleigh recommends you visit for your end of year buying or giving. So for the 2007 holidays, Think Global and Shop Local.

Brand Fandango Artists

Blue Barnhouse beautiful letterpress books from Asheville,
Nahuall’s Chocolate Seeds a brand new and local product called “Chocolate Seeds”
Gamila Facemods - individual candle holders printed in 3d from your very own face - while you wait!
mostess {creations} designs for the modern homemaker
Wootini mysterious cavalcade of oddities
sewbliss cool—knit-sew—too…
Julie Armbruster encaustic paranoia and curiosity with a glimmer of hope.
Kiona van Rhee-Wilson lucky Accessories: designs with a universal notion of beauty
Geoff Wood husband . photographer . band member . son . uncle . friend
John Mercer tasty bites on canvas
Gamila Teasticks The original tea infuser born and bred in Raleigh- and now introducing the Gems collection.
Mila Art Jackets Local artists Paul Friedrich, David Eichenberger, Casey Porn, Joey Fralin, Dale Flattum, and others have cerated art jackets to fold around your ipod.