Buy PDX: Fine Art, Fashion Photography and Absurdly Soft Cotton

A weekly roundup of retail sales and events.

Editor's Note: Portland, you're savvy. But you're also thrifty. That's why we're bringing you Buy PDX, a weekly roundup of retail events and sales around Portland. Every Tuesday, we'll let you know the best places to drop your precious dollars.

Northwest Portland hosts the 18th Annual Art in the Pearl Fine Arts and Crafts Festival over Labor Day weekend, showcasing the work of 130 artists from the U.S. and Canada. Along with exceptional artwork, there will be live music and theater performances, activities for kids and adults and plenty of delicious food. It's also free for all ages. NW Park blocks between W. Burnside and NW Glisan at NW 8th Ave. 10 am-6 pm Sunday-Saturday and 10 am-5 pm Monday, Aug. 30-Sept. 1. 

The women at VEV Studios are all about "using fashion photography to make women feel gorgeous, confident and badass.” As they explain in their current Kickstarter campaign, high-school friends Jillian Hall and Gia Goodrich partnered up to create VEV Studios. Their goal is serve women in male-dominated work environments by making the process of photography and photoshopping transparent. Rather than erasing supposed flaws with concealer or the click of the mouse, VEV highlights women's features. They hope to to raise $22,000 by Sept. 14. 

Communion on Southeast Hawthorne now carries the Swedish brand Cheap Monday, best known for its eccentric, minimalist designs and skull logo and Neuw, a clothing brand that revisits vintage. A few new items include the Bias dress from Cheap Monday and men's and women's denim. 3556 SE Hawthorne Blvd. 11 am to 7 pm Mondays-Saturdays and 12-6 pm Sundays.

Marine Layer, well-known for having "absurdly soft fabric," has opened its second shop in town. Located in a beautiful Victorian house on Northwest 23rd, the shop feels like the home you always wanted, adorned with the, yes, absurdly soft, clothing. The fabric is custom blended from Pima cotton and recycled birch wood, otherwise known as MicroModal. The downstairs floor features menswear with a shuffleboard planted in the center, while the ground floor features women's. Marine Layer takes advantage of the backyard space, too, and the shop hopes to host parties and events in the future. It's a little oasis with the comfiest treasures. 828 NW 23rd Ave. 11 am-8 pm Mondays-Saturdays, 11 am-7 pm Sundays.

 

WWeek 2015

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