Workshop

Workshop is a breath of fresh air. Located in the up and coming Pilsen area, it’s nice to have a boutique of such style. What a great open space the designer landed to be able to design as well as display/​sell her works.
A lot of the designs have a slight retro/​vintage feel (which I’m not really into), but she designs some really interesting, creative things on other pieces that feel more modern (which I’m really into)! The items are a little pricey, but I ride by the store everyday and there’s usually something flirty and fun in the window. I occasionally poke my head in just to see what I’m missing.

This place throws a hell of a party. I stopped by after being tipped off by the people at Knee Deep Vintage, who do a nice job of supporting their fellow merchants. I didn’t get to see the clothes in too much detail because it was full of people, good food, a kick-​ass mariachi band whose rendition of «Guantanamera» was spirited enough to banish grim images of Guantanamo Bay for a whole 10 minutes, and a drinks table at which an extremely beautiful redhead of uncertain age (20 – 40?), with wonderful manners and cool clothes, was serving original, delicious, potent concoctions made with tequila. I think she may have been the owner. I could have stayed for an hour just looking and listening, but had a party to get to and a thunderstorm to catch. I’m going back soon and bringing friends.

The Workshop falls into that category of stores that I would like to live in. Work in. Entertain in. Dream in. Create in…
…it was almost like seeing one of my favorite design blogs realized spatially.
but better.
The Workshop is born out of the mind and whimsy of designer/​owner Annie. A graduate of and now teacher at the Art Institute, she creates eco-​human-​and-​sensory honoring clothing under the label frei designs. Her organic pieces show just the right balance of structure and movement, inviting you to embrace a style both effortless and intentional.
Betwixt her original designs are pieces from local friends (eg. scarves of felted wool and silk worthy of framing) or vintage shops (eg. a «pregnant» Danish sewing table from the 60s).
The open layout blends a retail gallery with a workshop in back, offering an intimacy with creation that matches Annie’s apparently open and easygoing personality. In our half hour visit to Workshop, we got tips on how to wear vintages hats (something, Annie insists, everybody should do), a complete shop background, an overview of neighborhood goings-​on, and ample dog petting time (of the adorable, elegant giant-​Stella).
A lovely space filled with lovely things by lovely people.
I do hope you’ll see for yourself!
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Check out:

and a feature in the latest Mule magazine:

i spent a long time last saturday talking to annie, the designer behind worskhop. after distributing her clothes to stores across the country, she decided to open up this new, airy workshop cum boutique on 18^th, right off of halsted. the clothes at workshop aren’t cheap but they are artistic, unique and ethically and environmentally sound. the concept is to use sustainable, vintage and living-​wage fabrics and, with them, create whispy tops and dresses, well– but de-​constructed jackets and a bevy of other lovely, handcrafted pieces. (i had to restrain myself from special ordering the reversible black wool and brocade poncho on display but i haven’t ruled it out yet.) even if you just buy a $ 12 pair of earrings made out of a salvaged leather skirt like i did, definitely stop by on the way to simone’s or on an art walk.
ps. annie also mentioned that she’ll be doing classes and other events in-​store, so watch out for those as well.