Cardigan Empire

I’ve personally weeded through my valley’s local retail to find what may be your favorite new shop.  Below are my apparel picks:
 

Modern yet cozy, romantic yet clean, Rachel (my former Anthropologie comrade) and Jim Malloy vigilantly stock their shelves with indie and local designers for men, women, and babies. Affordably priced butter soft knits and lifestyle apparel, which can comfortably address a toddler’s picnic or a business casual lunch, line the rustic modern racks. The industrial design of the building is worth a field trip alone. 

1437 North 1st Street – Phoenix, AZ – 602.252.1323
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Traci Nelson (darling) & Jasmine Jarrett (adorable) have blended up a vintage flavor that’s nostalgic yet fresh. The clothing racks are packed with enchanting polyester prints first sewn anywhere from 1940 to 1980 and the accessory shelves feature more vintage scarves and handbags than you can shake a bag of mothballs at.  Best of all, you won’t have to empty a pocket book to fill a shopping bag.

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cultivating local retailers source: Anthropologie Catalog, 2009,

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver prevailed upon my pocketbook.  I used to leave anything labeled organic or local on the shelf; I wasn’t about to be swindled. I’m nearly a decade-dedicated vegetarian, and I try to eat whole foods at every meal, but I’m also pridefully parsimonious.  You don’t grow a shopping budget by throwing all your quarters away on pampered parsnips.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life

But this book detailed the costs of cross-country food transportation and pesticide-polluted mass production.  And while guilt stung my scruples as I considered my babies consuming vitamin-deficient, carcinogen carrying cucumbers, what really veered my volition was loss of flavor.  While I feel compelled to care about genetic mutation and heirloom extinction, I bow to the instant gratification of taste.  And food that has to travel long distances isn’t bred to taste, it’s bred to survive.  Hence perfectly round, red tomatoes tasting of water-logged rice cakes.

My newborn commitment to local produce also inspired a re-evaluation of local retail.  I’m a veteran online shopper, and it takes irresistible bait to compel me to tow 2.3 babies, 2 and under into any establishment that does not provide its own double seater trolley cart. But quality and variety are beckoning bait, and that’s precisely what local shopping delivers.

The next several posts are the results of my pilgrimage through Phoenix retail.
I hope you’ll share your local gems with me as well.

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