Shop of the Week: Wool and the Gang
By Rebecca Prusinowski
Even before the economy tanked and shoppers became more selective, Lisa Sabrier and Carolyn Main
sensed that people were looking for something special in their
wardrobes -- less logos and mass consumption, more heart and D.I.Y.
ingenuity. They formed Wool and the Gang, offering quirky
knitwear collections and full kits so you can get own knitting on. In
just two short years, the Gang has gone global, inspiring everyone --
from tweens to grannies, hipsters and hippies alike -- to create,
celebrate and share their knitwork. The company website provides
how-to help, with video tutorials and sketch memos, and now Wool and
the Gang is setting up their first studio/shop right here in NYC.
Nestled on Thompson Street in SoHo, the store will feature Wool and the Gang's hand-knit apparel and different lines of bright-colored, top-quality Peruvian yarn. More important, the space will serve as a home base and meeting place for the Gang's many members. There's a big working table in the middle of the store so you can start your snood or scarf on the spot. The Wool and the Gang designers have their workshop on the premises and can provide expertise.
We stopped by to chat with some of the Gang yesterday as they prepared for tonight's opening party. Between rolling coats of white paint and hammering up shelves, they shared their enthusiasm for settling in New York. "This city really gets the concept...surrounding yourself with all different people. Creating something funky or glamorous or just cool," said Nadège Winter, their style manager, from Paris. Could more Wool and the Gang shops be in the cards? "We're looking at Portland, San Francisco and other cities that share this spirit and would seem like a good fit," Jennifer Murray, their North American developer, confirmed.
Right now, though, they're focusing on this location: The studio/shop will be unveiled tonight and open for business tomorrow. We are already signed up for one of their knitting classes and will be sure to report back with shots of the finished interior -- and our own knitted masterpiece (gulp). You can officially call us part of the Gang!
Wool and the Gang
98 Thompson St.
www.woolandthegang.com
Nestled on Thompson Street in SoHo, the store will feature Wool and the Gang's hand-knit apparel and different lines of bright-colored, top-quality Peruvian yarn. More important, the space will serve as a home base and meeting place for the Gang's many members. There's a big working table in the middle of the store so you can start your snood or scarf on the spot. The Wool and the Gang designers have their workshop on the premises and can provide expertise.
We stopped by to chat with some of the Gang yesterday as they prepared for tonight's opening party. Between rolling coats of white paint and hammering up shelves, they shared their enthusiasm for settling in New York. "This city really gets the concept...surrounding yourself with all different people. Creating something funky or glamorous or just cool," said Nadège Winter, their style manager, from Paris. Could more Wool and the Gang shops be in the cards? "We're looking at Portland, San Francisco and other cities that share this spirit and would seem like a good fit," Jennifer Murray, their North American developer, confirmed.
Right now, though, they're focusing on this location: The studio/shop will be unveiled tonight and open for business tomorrow. We are already signed up for one of their knitting classes and will be sure to report back with shots of the finished interior -- and our own knitted masterpiece (gulp). You can officially call us part of the Gang!
Wool and the Gang
98 Thompson St.
www.woolandthegang.com
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