I had just begun one of my ritual strolls down Newbury Street when I happened upon a storefront I’d never noticed before. There was no sign with a store name or logo that I recognized, what actually caught my eye were two huge words in the window, "Made Here". At first I thought, "Is this Madewell?", but there was nothing with their name on it. I figured it must be a local designer's store. Being a huge fan of local businesses, I decided to walk on in and see for myself what was hiding in this nook of a store.
As I walked in the front door, I was greeted by the distinct scent of freshly cut wood. Gorgeous wooden floors, shelves, and fixtures decorated the space completely. I still had no idea what store I was in, but I quite admired the décor. It was like walking into a cabin or a craftsman’s shop. I began scouring the store, looking at the many interesting and distinct items in front of me and trying to find any label that would tell me where I was. I hadn’t gotten very far in my scavenger hunt when I was greeted by Jake (who I later found out is their vintage denim specialist) and he offered to show me through the store.
My education began with the concept behind this store's creation. This two month old location is one of only three in the world and is designed to sell products that include vintage replicas, one of kind pieces, and American made products created by third party designers. "Made Here" is the concept that drives this these boutique style stores. The original is in NYC's Meatpacking district and the other is in Malibu. The idea is to create a store with a neighborhood feel and provide some of the hottest and most unique pieces that Levi’s is doing now. Levi's! It was a Levi's store that I had found. I was immediately in wonder and awe of this place and ready to find out more.
To give this Boston gem its own individuality, architects turned this former art gallery into a partial ship. The front end and window have been made into the hull and long wooden "deck" floors run throughout the galley-shaped body of the store. To complement the American made feel, designers have also incorporated a Native American motif throughout the space. Pendleton blankets are stacked on the shelves and handmade moccasins are merchandised everywhere you look. The moccasins aren’t just decorations; they are part of the third party collection sold in these Levi's boutiques.
The first of these products that Jake showed me were one of a kind jean jackets made by Boise based company, Junkyard Jeans. The company is famous for their use of the, period correct, classic chain stitching style to produce their vintage denim products. Using Levi's type three denim and their own hand sewn patch designs, they have created a line of jackets that are fun and unique to each store. Take a look at their website to see their “Levi's 50 state project” and you’ll see some of these clever jackets. Though I'm not sure I'd be the one to wear one, they are definitely fabulous and quite the statement piece.
Next Jake showed me products, specifically made for the Boston boutique, by the Levi’s tailor in NYC. At the time of my visit, they had three denim laptop cases with beautiful leather button closures (a product I am dying to own). They also carry a variety of bags made from raw denim and dyed in various colors and come in tote size, messenger, and hobo chic. You'll find other gorgeous and unique products here when you make your own visit. The tailor is always working on original designs, so you're guaranteed to find something new and different each time you shop here.
The moccasins I mentioned earlier are made by Oregon designer Carol Lindhorse. The store offers these shoes in an expansive variety of colors, designs, and looks. If you have a penchant for Native or Western wear, any pair of these would be a chic addition to your wardrobe. Make sure to also check out their jewelry case in the back that contains bracelets, necklaces, and leather goods designed by artists from throughout the country. They are wonderfully handcrafted pieces and quite affordable as well.
Some absolute favorites of mine are a group of vintage Navy deck and field jackets from WWII and the Korean War. They are in impeccable condition and while their structure alone is a sight to behold, it's awe inspiring to see a piece of history right in front of you. Jake also introduced me to the LVC line, exclusive to these boutiques. These jeans are exact replicas of pivotal designs for the Levi’s 501's from the 1920's through the 1950's. Everything from the denim they use to the rivets on each pair is an exact replica of those decades' designs.
Offered at this store as well, are two very unique products. First, Levi’s has created Curve ID, a measurement system that will help women find their perfectly fitting pair of jeans. By taking three different proportion measurements of your body, a denim specialist can point you directly to the pair of jeans that will fit you scrumptiously. WaterLess is a jean line that Levi's created in order to do their part, and help us do ours, in reducing water consumption. The process used for these jeans reduces water consumption from 28% to an astounding 96%. You absolutely must go and try one or both of these fantastic products at the Newbury Street boutique.
In an effort to bring visibility to the store, the staff has started "52 events in 52 weeks" which will be held, in most cases, on Thursday evenings. This will be a great way for current and new customers to see and learn about all the new products that Levi's is offering, as well as get an education in denim. So be on the lookout for these events either on the Levi's Newbury facebook page or by stopping into their store. Every one of their staff is extremely kind and knowledgeable and always willing to help in any way that they can. I plan on frequenting this place as often as possible for shopping and education and I hope you get to do the same.
Cheers,
The Chic Chanteur
