Photographs by Christine Donley, taken for the upcoming Swankety Swank Holiday Inspiration Magazine, an online publication featuring our artists and designers.
With everything going on in the world today, many of us are asking ourselves what we can do to make a difference and to create positive change in our own lives, and in our communities. Frankly, there’s no better time to be more action oriented in fixing the issues we’ve been dealing with, from joblessness to pollution, to a wide-spread sense of discontent and depression, there’s no question we need change. We want change.
The good news is that many positive things can be achieved by utilizing local artisans, designers, entrepreneurs, and businesses for the things you need in your day to day life. It only takes a shift in consciousness, and an evolution of thinking in regards to what sources we turn to when we find ourselves in need of something. The choices that support economic growth, human dignity, and healthy environments are there; for them to be effective, you, as a consumer, must make choices to support them. Your choices are voting with your dollars. Every dollar you spend, and how and where you spend it, is casting a vote towards the kind of world you want to live in.
Last year we wrote about giving ourselves a multi-million dollar economic stimulus by spending locally, and this year we again ask you to do as much of your shopping, spending, and dining locally this holiday season.
How Shopping Local Impacts the Big Picture
- More money stays in your community when you shop locally. $25 more (than big box stores) out of every $100 you spend locally stays here, circulating in the local economy. Why? Many local stores have higher percentages of wages, goods and services purchased locally, profits, and donations spent in the community. Our spending should go to places that generates income and prosperity for our city, not take it away. (Tip: Look for local shops that use these practices like stocking locally made goods, employing local workers, and being active in the community to ensure your holiday dollars are spent in the best possible way.)
- Shopping Local is voting with your dollars for the type of world you want to live in. If we want a just world where people are paid fair wages, then we must support businesses that pay fair wages and support healthy work environments. If we want a clean planet, then we must make clean, sustainable choices. We can also chose to only buy from those who create new products to bring quality, joy, longevity, functionality, and beauty into our lives.
- Shopping Local provides more opportunities for local people to work and contribute to society.
- Shopping with local, sustainable shops like Swankety Swank helps the environment because we sell goods that are not “throw-away” items. The human spirit responds to items of beauty, form, and quality by holding them at a higher value, and therefore we are more likely to care for these items, maintain, and share them. Higher quality items can be repaired, and they can often be re-sold. The act of buying non-disposable items is a sustainable practice.
- Higher quality items cost more, so you buy less, and that’s a good thing. Planned obsolescence and fast fashion has made shopping gluttons of many of us. Shopping less and buying items that stand the test of time is the way to go.
- Beauty, function, and quality have significant value in our lives. We want you to feel the elation of beauty and quality in your home and on your body. I think we’ve all started to settle for less with products that break quickly, or become shabby after a few wears. These items do not have the powerful physical and emotional properties that quality made items do. They do no elicit the powerful dynamic that exists between art and man.
What We Have to Offer at Swankety Swank!
Yabette started Swankety Swank to be a connector between talented, local creators who use sustainable practices, and buyers who are looking for something special. Today Swankety Swank is a dynamic market place full of beautiful things that are good for our economy, environment, and spirit.
This holiday season, we are stocking our store with wonderful, locally made items at a robust range of prices, because we would love you to consider our offerings for your holiday shopping needs.
Here are just a few of our talented creators and the wonderful items they have produced for your pleasure and enjoyment.
DAS OWL
Deborah and Oliver, creators of DAS+OWL forge ahead in their creations that bring the best of the past to our future.
Lovers of history, ornate design and fine fabrics, DAS OWL are creators of fine clothing and accessories for women and men. In their efforts to “elevate the everyday,” they use historical patterns, exquisite fabrics, and high quality details like ornate brass buttons to create items like men’s top coats and vests, women’s bustle skirts and bolero jackets, and accompanying accessories that are “instantly evocative of a more civilized age, yet comfortably at home in the present.”
DAS items are often made at the hands of master sewer Deborah Sciales, though she also contributes to job creation by employing local garment makers for non-custom pieces. Oliver Lowe of OWL makes all his top-hats by hand. In all things, DAS OWL are as green and sustainable as possible.
Shebobo
Sophia brings a modern take on 1920's glamour in these Shebobo accessories and gibbous dress.
Local creator Kirsten Schipper makes hats, fingerless gloves, head-bands and other sassy outwear for the modern woman. Shebobo accessories are available in beautiful fabrics that are wearable, durable, and washable in a large variety of colors and textures. Described as “chic, fresh fashion combining old world bohemian panache with a splash of neo hippie flair,” many of these items are priced under $50, making them very affordable. Solid construction makes them long-lasting. Due to the variety of fabrics and prints, her fingerless gloves are great for ladies (and fashion forward fellas). From the city commuter who loves the combination of freedom, protection, and warmth fingerless gloves gives her hands while biking all-over SF, to the glamor-puss who rocks the red velvet gloves with a dramatic cocktail ring for a holiday soiree, this work is fabulous, practical, and makes a great gift. Shebobo pieces that are not hand-made (and many of them are) are made here in the Bay Area by local garment makers. “Made in California” is so much more “old world bohemian panache” than “Made in China.”
Miranda Caroligne
Anne is radiant in this Miranda Caroligne 2-way top with Beads of Beauty head adornment and knitted cape by Kathryn's Krafts.
Miranda Caroligne represents the work of Miranda C. Burns, a woman with a huge following of San Francisco collectors. While Miranda’s talents range from performance art to philosophy, and installation art to authorship, her primary focus is the creation of wearable art from salvaged textiles. Miranda’s creations are based on much more than aesthetics. Her work is infused with concepts of individual self-expression, DIY practices, realistic body image, diminishing waste, supporting local economies and sustainable living. Many pieces are hand-made by Miranda, and some are manufactured by local garment makers, so by wearing Miranda Caroligne, you are contributing to a stronger Bay Area economy, local job creation and sustainability.
One would never guess that “wearable art” could be so sexy or so comfortable. Miranda uses cozy, sustainable fabrics to create some of her stand-out pieces like the 2-way top, and recycles shirts and jackets to create one-of-a-kind shirts and jackets that turn heads. Miranda Caroligne pieces can carry you from brunch with friends to cocktail hour in style.
Stolen Sunday
Storlen Sunday scarf with this Love Profit jacket & Shebobo gloves makes a bold (and cozy) statement.
Stolen Sunday makes schoodies, the awesome hoodie-scarf combination and infinity scarfs to keep the necks of Bay Area’s coolest cats both warm and stylish. “American Grown and Sewn” means their organic cotton was made in the L.A. and sewn in the Bay Area. Based in San Francisco, Stolen Sunday is California kids making clothes that look good, feel good, and remind you that life is pretty damn magical sometimes.
Bayside Boutique
Sophisticated whimsy always makes a Bayside Boutique dress a holiday party hit.
Bayside Boutique makes altered couture from salvaged and reconstructed vintage fabrics and apparel. We have a nice selection of dresses that are perfect for holiday soirees that are built upon vintage slips and corsets using a lot of vintage fabrics, laces, ribbons, and other found adornments. Bayside Boutique designs feature a lot of hand stitching, and one of a kind designs that are most often soft and a little tattered, creating stunning modern pieces from the best of the past.
Sexi Seaweed
Amelia at the ocean- one of the inspiration places for her stunning pieces.
Sexi Seaweed’s jewelry is “Inspired by the Wild” and best appreciated as installation art pieces for the human form- completed by the animation of the wearer’s movements. Designer Amelia credits Pacific Northwest totemic art for her interest in story-telling through regalia, integrating found objects and organic pieces as evidence of identity and intention.
Her beautiful pieces, sway, shimmer, and mesmerize in the way that only nature can. She uses her intuition to guide her aesthetic choices when making her stunning rings, earrings, and necklaces to create pieces that are unique and meaningful.
Heroic Tarot by STORM
You can also get a One-of-a-kind experience with STORM! at Swankety Swank.
Why not consider giving yourself or a friend an appointment to bring the truth into the light. Heroic Tarot was created in order to bring insight, reflection, and guidance through divination. As a synchronicity attractor, it is STORM’s mission to help you find strength in your convictions and bring your dreams into reality.
Words STORM’s clients tend to use are “nice, friendly, put me at ease, intuitive, non-judgemental, and knowledgeable about the meanings of the cards.” Some even say stuff like “mind-blowing and genius”, and I tend to agree.
STORM is currently using the traditional Aquarian Tarot as well as his award-winning X-Men Tarot deck but is versed in other decks as well! If you are unable to come in for an in person reading, please know that phone and email readings are also available. Get and give the gift of knowledge!
By Nieves
Award Winning products By Nieves at Swankety Swank.
By Nieves is a natural handmade body care line produced with organic ingredients and served with a twist. Nieves delights in formulating unique and wonderful body care. She develops products that she wants to use-and has found that other people are looking for the same solutions! By Nieves was named Best Local Skincare Line by SF weekly in 2010!
The first By Nieves product I fell in love with is Cloud of Protection, an essential oil spray that has both aromatherapy properties and can be used as a hand-sanitizer. With it’s lovely citrus scent, visitors always comment when I spray Cloud of Protection in Swankety Swank, or in my own home. Out in public, the travel size is great for sanitizing my 4-year old son’s hands and freshening the air around us on stinky MUNI rides.
Another favorite product is C-Perfect, an antioxidant treatment oil packed with naturally occurring Nutrients, Vitamin C and an Essential Oil blend designed to help with anti-aging and skin clarity. I’ve been using this product and my skin has never looked better. The skin on my face is glowing and noticeably softer, while my neck and chest look much more supple with each use. Since I have oily skin I was worried that an oil based product would cause breakouts, but that hasn’t been the case. In fact, old acne scares are less noticeable since I started using it. I also run what’s left on my hands through my hair, which leaves it softer, shinier, and smelling delicious.
Check out the wonderful properties of Nieves’ all organic ingredients on her website by clicking here. Find out the what and how of C Serum’s 12 natural ingredients which fight wrinkles, soften scars and skin imperfections, eliminate toxins, and lift the mood and spirit, all while smelling amazing.
Try By Nieves for Yourself!
I was introduced to Nieves through the generous samples she often drops by the store. We think By Nieves products make great gifts for yourself, friends, and loved ones, so she has given us a nice supply of samples so that you can try Nieves before you buy!
For our Small Business Saturday shoppers, we will have free samples of Nieves products to treat yourself to an all-organic, everyday luxury!
When you stop by the store, just ask for a sample and you will receive deluxe samples of C-serum and another great product, Face Fix.
Super-Special Give-Away on Small Business Saturday, November 26th
In support of shopping local and supporting local creators, Nieves has created 5 deluxe sample kits with Cloud of Protection, Face Fix, and C Serum.
We will be giving out these 5 kits with the first 5 purchases on Saturday!
We really hope you’ll shop and spend local as often as possible. The change starts by asking yourself a simple question or two when the need for a purchase arises: Is there a local resource or solution for this purchase?
By asking yourself that simple question, and taking the actions to try something new, (and perhaps find that locally, you can get the better item at a better cost) you really are saving the world!
(All photographs by Christine Donley)
