There are clothes you love to hate, and there are clothes you hate to love. Make fun of Uggs all you want, but no comfier shoe exists. Likewise, I have spent many a day rending my hair in American Apparel. “Damn you, you non-local, big-city company,” I silently shriek. “Created by a sleazeball, beloved by anemic hipsters everywhere! Why are you so ubiquitous?!” And why are their clothes so comfortable, bright and appealing???
Now we have another to add to the roster of non-local purveyors of distressingly wonderful clothing. Brooklyn Industries is opening its first West Coast location today, with a reception at 8 pm at their new location on 735 NW 23rd Avenue. The Brooklyn-based (duh) company will be hosting DJs Freaky Outty and Rev. Shines and artwork by international artists, as well as wine, cheese and cupcakes by Saint Cupcake.
Marjorie Skinner at the Mercury raises some interesting questions about Brooklyn Industries’ probable success. Unlike her, I think that Northwest 23rd Avenue is exactly the right spot for Brooklyn Industries to open. The tweenagers—who probably have more disposable income than any struggling artists and/or writers (ahem) right now—are more likely to go to Brooklyn Industries if it means they can hit up Free People right after.
And I think having Brooklyn Industries opening here is just cool. I don’t think they pose a threat to local designers. You don’t go to BI (or AA, for that matter) for signature pieces. You go there for (astoundingly flattering) moderately priced staples—shorts, hoodies, leggings. It’s pretty awesome that BI’s founders Vahap and Lexy Funk picked Portland before those other West Coast bastions of gritty urban aesthetes, the Mission in San Francisco, or Venice Beach in Los Angeles, or even Seattle. Our time (for invaders) has come! Embrace it, everyone!
Brooklyn Industries Launch Party, 735 NW 23rd Avenue, 241-4898. 8 pm Thursday, March 12. Free.
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"brooklyn industries"? on NW 23rd? selling hoodies? how motherfucking pretentious and annoying can you get. suuuuuch a creative name! you are the fuckers i hate- you are the type of assholes responsible for that stain called " the pearl" – just a hair above the derelict junkies that used to live there. so much smug self satisfaction. now suck youselves off for coming up with such a fucking lame store in the fucking lamest part of town (apart from gresham, the beav….well the fucking lamest part of close in pdx anyway), with most likely the lamest pseudo hipster wannabe cool customers. if you had ANY credibility you wouldnt set up shop it that shallow vacuous part of town. n.e., sure-youd be creative and kitsch- except for the wholly retarded name— southeast, it be fine there too- but 23rd?? bye bye coffee people, machesmo mouse- we got starbucks instead, pastini barfaria. thank god for kornblatts, tho- and the pizza place. and laurelwood ipa. damn these brownies are starting to kick in. time to end the rant. bottom line– you have just made wearing a hoodie seem lame. i would like to thank you for that. 23rd sucks- the residents that is. the overflow from the pearl. barf. 23rd used to be such a cool place– its happening in southeast a little- beware northeast, your awesomeness may soon be commodified too. damn these are good.
very excited to have this store in portland. love the clothes and the atmosphere!