Despite its hardly-larger-than-a-postage-stamp size, Fiat Lux manages to pack much worth writing home about into its newly-opened Church Street space.
Stocked with apparel and accessories by a mostly-local cadre of independent artists and designers, the shop is the latest venture from Soul Patch Tattoo owner and jewelry designer Marie McCarthy, who named the shop after her eponymous jewelry line, and Alexei Angelides.
"Because it's so small, our goal is to do mostly local and indie," says Angelides of the designers and labels the store carries.
Inside, jewelry and handbags by small, independent labels such as Kittinhawk, Chemical Wedding and Josie Adele sit atop shelves that climb up the tiny, high-ceilinged shop’s exposed brick walls. Apparel for men and women from labels such as Kucoon, B. Scott and Ric Rac occupies two abbreviated racks and continues up the walls, while glass cases house vintage sunglasses, ties and men's cufflinks from the likes of Louis Vuitton, Swank, Prada and Hermes.
Flowers in vases on the shelves add freshness to the rustic feeling of the interiors.
The owners tackled the challenge of limited space by using the walls to display apparel, including jackets by San Francisco-based menswear company Menk and upcycled cashmere sweaters from Stella Neptune.
Surfer-chic jewelry from McCarthy's Fiat Lux line ranges from gold and silver spirals to gold-dipped shark's teeth pendants.
Feather jewelry by Venus Superstar continues the boho-glam vibe.
An opening party is planned for April 8.
But in the meantime, see it for yourself: Fiat Lux, 218 Church St., SF.
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Lorraine Sanders covers fashion for 7x7.com and is the founder of SF Indie Fashion. Reach her via email at lorraine (at) lorrainesanders (dot) com.
