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New York City has more stores than anyone could physically tackle, but somehow we always keep returning to the usual suspects. To break out of the rut, we've asked some local shopping and fashion gurus to provide their hidden retail gems—those unique stores around our fantastic city that we might not all know about. Cue the Beatles: We're about to get a little help from our friends.
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Image via Flickr
Becca McCharen designs a line called Chromat, a collection she started a few years back that is inspired and influenced by her theoretical background in both urban design and architecture. She focuses on structural experiments for the human form, and the result is zany, futuristic, gothic Jetsons gear. She's a fan of 'zines, and big into the DIY thing (look out, P.S I Made This!) So she heads to the chaotic Garment District and plants herself down at Steinlauf and Stoller, an institution that has been serving the crafting community since 1947.—Yale Breslin
Steinlauf and Stoller is a tiny shop in the heart of the Garment District that is chock-full of sewing notions. Before I even lived in NYC and was working on my label in Virginia, I used to take trips to New York just to go to this shop and get supplies. I go there to stock up on elastic, underwire, adjustable strap sliders and loops, pins...everything! The men who work there are brusque but I appreciate that. Just give me my 1/2 inch black braided elastic and let me go back to work! There is also a nice lady up front who does custom grommets and studding. It's not that pretty, but it's a great resource.· Steinlauf and Stoller [Official Site]
· Chromat [Official Site]
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