It seems clear that Katy Noonan has found a following for her offbeat Living Collective merchandise. Recently, a former customer stopped by her new location at TechArtista Co-Working Environment, 4818 Washington Ave., and asked: “Do you know there’s a shop similar to yours at The Vino Gallery?” Noonan replied that she had relocated her shop from the Vino Gallery location about 4 months ago. Living Collective began as a pop-up for holiday season 2015 and remained at The Vino Gallery for a little over a year.
When Alex Head needed more room to accommodate special events, Noonan moved into a ground-floor space at TechArtista, where she finds the collaborative environment energizing. There, she has the advantage of a built-in clientele and frequent member events to showcase her wares. Noonan also mentioned that proximity to Bowood Farms, just east on Olive, is an extra bonus.
Above, Theresa Moher adds her artistic touch to Living Collective’s storefront.
A couple of years ago when Katy Noonan, above, moved back to St. Louis from New York, she realized how much she missed home. “It’s easier to reach out and connect with people here,” she said. And when Noonan explored retail in St. Louis she discovered that shops were not carrying brands and designers that were edgier and more whimsical, that she knew of from managing stores in other cities – Boston, New York and Chicago. Read earlier post here to learn more about this young entrepreneur.
In the photo above, Noonan is holding a dress by Nooworks, $120, a S.F.-based company that features custom textiles designed by independent artists. Robin Eisenberg designed the fabric on the dress shown above.
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Left, Native Youth’s striped jumpsuit is $130, and right, Lucca’s “Cher-like” wide-leg strapless jumpsuit is $88.
Left: Elohim by Sabrina Goh’s polyester & viscose skirt, $250, is paired with an airy off-the-shoulder top with straps and bell sleeves, $190. Right: Brooklyn-based Wray’s lovely white (or black, not shown) linen & viscose tie dress, $230.
New York designer Rachel Antonoff’s embroidered Betty & Veronica jacket is $188.
Left: Noonan designed Living Collective “pizza ghost” art tees, $24—”because I like spooky things and pizza too,” she explained. Right: Wray’s hi-waisted cotton green pants, $150.
Living Collective has an exclusive on the late Laura Busony’s unusual hand-crafted bracelets, necklaces & rings, $45 to $300. Busony attended Pratt Institute and started her Brooklyn-based jewelry business, LAB, in 2010. Her designs have been featured in British Vogue, Anthropologie, Elle Mexico and Lucky Magazine.
Local designer Victoria Cates, whose label is called Potion23, creates embroidered patches, $18and up, to whipstitch on tees, bags or pillows. Partially visible beneath the patches is Potion23’s embroidered pink beret, $180, $95.
Living Collective carries Cates’ gorgeous one-and-only “Coral Garden” stretch-belt with silver clasp, above, $320.
Living Collective’s selection of shoe brands includes designer Ty McBride’s “intentionally blank” styles (top photo), $168 to $198. Bottom photo: Huuli Print R/H and Superga shoes are $86.
Living Collective, 4818 Washington Ave., is open Thursdays and Fridays from 12 to 7 p.m., or by appointment: [email protected].