The newly minted Myth & Symbol boutique is as well-crafted as its inventory. Note the scrawling Picasso-inspired illustrations of zodiac signs, Native American emblems and translated Nietzsche quotations in the windows. Don’t overlook the dressing rooms wrapped in 7,000 feet of rope hand-dyed by the owners themselves. Sisters Trang and Chau Nguyen decided to open up shop because the brands they coveted — sustainable and responsibly made fashion, accessory and home collections — weren’t obtainable locally. Chau’s husband, Roque Strew, and friend Ameet Giatonde soon came on board. The resulting 800-square-foot shop, designed in collaboration with friends Renee Galang and Courtney Sanchez of Raye Studio, stocks men’s and women’s fashion and accessories labels including Wren, Uzi, Samantha Pleet, Ariana Bohling, Odette NY, Baggu, Rennes and Dream Collective. They’re expecting fall shipments from designers Steven Alan, Lemlem, and Rachel Comey. They also carry items for the home by Fog Linen, Three Dot Pots and Masanori Oji for Futagami; paper goods by Gold Teeth Brooklyn; and a collection of independent periodicals and zines including Lucky Peach and Planet Journal, with more to come. Next up, Chau — who’s also a high school art teacher — will host evening workshops on silkscreening, block-printing and watercoloring and will recruit others to teach skills such as knitting, bringing the Myth & Symbol well-crafted concept full-circle. 2537 Times Blvd. in Rice Village, 832.422.6984; mythandsymbol.com.
IMAGE: Trang and Chau Nguyen. Photo by Jenny Antill.