For the Podolls, fashion is all in the family. The husband-and-wife duo Joshua and Lauren Podoll, who launched their self-titled brand of mens- and womenswear 10 years ago, are officially all grown up.
On the heels of a spring capsule collection for Anthropologie, October 18 marked the opening of The Podolls, their first boutique—900 square feet in downtown Burlingame—as well as the launch of Podots, a children’s clothing line inspired by their curly-haired two-year-old, Dashiell.
Despite having made a name for themselves long ago, when their early designs were picked up by Barneys New York and earned the support of Stella Ishii—The News showroom founder who launched the careers of Alexander Wang and Phillip Lim—the Podolls continue to keep it real. When the recession made designing $2,000 dresses seem ridiculous, they adapted. Their motto: “local + global = love.” The Noe Valley couple developed a more accessible price point and strengthened their commitment to the environment and people, sourcing their all-natural fabrics sustainably and manufacturing their garments in South San Francisco. “We know the individuals who make the clothing,” says Lauren, a haute-hippie type who easily pairs a Wrk-shp ceramic necklace with her Goyard tote. “It’s a really important part of our jobs.”
If it sounds personal, it is. The Primrose Road store acts as a showroom for the couple’s favorite things and also displays Joshua’s abstract art—which was praised for its “contemplative clarity” by Los Angeles Times art critic Christopher Knight. Also look for contributions from local artisans, such as a custom cash-wrap and jewelry case by Key & Kite woodworker Danny Montoya and light fixtures by Wrk-shp.
This article was published in 7x7's December/January issue. Click here to subscribe.
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