Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Black Book: J'adore myPetsQuare


Fans of the French New Wave and Godard films should know about the Australian clothing brand myPetsQuare. Channeling Anna Karina's iconic '60s style, the spring '11 collection, "Club-Cine Cinematheque," is quirky yet classic. Whether it's a fitted cotton dress with a twist (literally) or a bold navy striped tank that hangs delicately, each piece captures the breezy sophistication that kept characters in new wave flicks looking fashionable until the fin.

And New Yorkers will be happy to know that myPetsQuare is available at Nolita shop Babel Fair.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

PAPER MAG: Babel Fair Covers Seoul Fashion Week - By Erica Kiang


As proprietor of women's apparel and lifestyle shop Babel Fair, Erica Kiang jet sets to far-flung locales, scooping up the latest and greatest looks from the streets-way before they hit any stores. This past summer she told PAPERMAG what caught her eye in Barcelona, and today she shares the goods from Seoul. Check it out:

S
eoul Fashion Week just wrapped, having presented the best Korean designers to international buyers and press for the tenth year running. True to Asia's reputation as a trendsetting terrain, the talent at SFW proved to be innovative and inspired. Here's who sizzled, what they showed and why it was hot:

WHO:
Kaael E Suktae
WHAT: Geometric collection inspired by Star Wars
WHY IT WAS HOT: Pushed the the limits of wearable fashion. Loved the Blade Runner feel of his clothes, specifically his angular patchwork crop tops. The expert cut-outs and structured shapes showed off his tailoring chops, honed at Sonia Rykiel and Christian Dior.

WHO:
pushBUTTON
WHAT: Quirky fun line by Seung Gun-Park
WHY IT WAS HOT: Without any formal fashion education, Park's lighthearted line has become a Korean celebrity fave. Tiny puff balls, loose silhouettes, and lots of fringe demonstrated Park's knack for creating the impossibly cute. A+ for the scarf pants, too.

WHO:
Imseonoc
WHAT: Wearable fashion juxtaposed with progressive pieces
WHY IT WAS HOT: Featuring a dueling pianist and DJ booming techno beats, this show was one of the most interesting of the week. The music reflected the contrasting fashion vibes: a classic buttondown followed by a futuristic dress, for example. The finale wowed with the pianist softly singing "When the Saints Go Marching in" as a model sashayed down the runway in a plastic bubble cape.


Photos by Erica Kiang, Philippe Pourhashemi and Joseph Quartana

Thursday, September 9, 2010

TimeOut NY (June 10): Your Perfect Shopping Saturday


"It totally peeves us when we show up to a friend's birthday party sporting the same damn Zara dress as every other chick. Once we stumbled into Babel Fair (260 Elizabeth St between E Houston and Prince Sts; 646-360-3685, babelfair.com), we found the answer to our problem: Owner Erica Kiang sources appropriately priced, one-of-a-kind threads ($50-$400) from around the globe. On a recent trip, we lusted after a plaid shift dress from Denmark ($149), a colorful pair of structural strappy heels from Taiwan ($269), and an embroidered tunic from Mexico ($149)--perfect for throwing over bathing suits when frying our bods in Central Park."

Monday, August 9, 2010

amNew York (August 2010) - What's In Store For Fall

"Though practically every day has been a scorcher lately, the autumn clothing hanging in store windows reminds us that a sea- sonal shift will soon be here. Jackets, boots, sweaters, scarves- they've all made their way into New York shops, and now it's time to add them to your closet. Owners of some of our favorite boutiques gave us the lowdown on the most coveted women's pieces in stock this season."

By Julie Gordon
jgordon@am-ny.com

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Refinery 29: The Coolest NYC Store We Never Knew About!


When it comes to New York shopping, we were certain that we knew pretty much everything. So, we're a tad embarrassed to confess that this cutting-edge Nolita boutique completely took us by surprise during a weekend jaunt down Elizabeth Street. The name: Babel Fair, a little NYC shop that packs a mondo punch with hard-to-find clothing, accessories, and treasures that speed up our heart-rate to dangerous levels. The boutique was founded in October by Erica Kiang, a world traveler (hence the reference to the infamous Tower of Babel), who spends a good chunk of her year exploring foreign fashion in far-flung locales. The result is a carefully curated shop of wonders stocked with a laundry list of designers that aren't carried anywhere else in the city. Look for zipper-detailed frocks from Spain's El Delgado Buil and loud print scarves from Brazilian brand Alessa, plus Japanese denim, Argentinean leather, French chocolate, and custom-made acrylic nails from Hong Kong. Plus, the interior is pretty worldly, too—we're loving the crate-like tables, screaming yellow boxes, and the upside-down mural of artsy, iconic buildings. If you haven't checked it out, we urge you to do so—you'll walk out feeling like your style passport got a whole lot more stamps.

Ms. Kiang was nice enough to give us the inside scoop on her five favorite items available in the store right now:

1. El Delgado Buil Leather Scarf with Zip Pockets ($249): "Keep your hands free with this best-selling leather scarf by Spanish line El Delgado Buil---a chic combination of a scarf and a wallet!"

2. El Delgado Buil Chiffon Striped Skirt ($299): "This flirty chiffon skirt is subtly sexy with transparent stripes that reveal a glimpse of boy shorts underneath."

3. Striped Romper by Danish brand Gestuz ($159): "Gestuz hit the nail on the head with this edgy romper that has a slinky Blade Runner feel."

4. "R75" Binary Code Watch by Japan's Tokyo Flash ($249): "We still can't read the R75 binary code watch, yet it's our favorite accessory. Go figure."

5. Morrine Comte Marant Ruffle Vest ($249), & Bow-Tie Necklace ($49) : "This vest and necklace feel like a cool version of Gossip Girl . How could that be a bad thing?"

R29 DEAL:
Like always, we've managed to pull some strings! The Babel Fair team has agreed to give y'all 25% off in-store purchases until August 4! After a week's worth of discounted shopping at this Nolita gem, we're sure that this boutique will become one of your fast-favorites, too. Don't forget to say Refinery29 at checkout!

July 28, 2010 8:00 AM

Thursday, July 22, 2010

PAPER MAG: Babel Fair Covers Barcelona Fashion Week - By Erica Kiang


Erica Kiang is the mastermind behind Babel Fair, the Nolita shop stocked with of-the-moment clothes, accessories and trinkets from around the world. With the help of three trend forecasters, she imports styles simmering on the streets of Europe, Asia, South America and beyond. Last week, however, she hopped a flight to Barcelona to observe their latest and greatest wares firsthand. Here she reports to PAPER on what caught her eye at Barcelona Fashion Week:

Hot off a World Cup victory, Barcelona was alive with energy, romance, and a bit of disco edge last week for Barcelona Fashion Week. Located in the impressive Fira de Barcelona, the week kicked off in true Spanish style - with wine flowing before noon, a DJ perched above the cobblestone quad, and the fashion crowd busting a move between each presentation. Eighteen shows were held during the three-day event, and they represented a mix of European talent.

Among the standouts: Spain's own Cardona Bonache, whose Spring 2011 collection focused on a monochromatic white scheme enhanced by pleating and folding details. Bonache's show opened with the very literal accordion dress made with a series of delicate pin tucks. Earning an increasing reputation, Juan Antonio Avalos of Barcelona was also a hit. He showed a menswear collection influenced by Japanese pop culture, with punchy colors and metallic shoulder pads. (Even the hamster wheel helmets his models wore, however, could not hide the hotness of Spanish model Jon Kortajarena, from A Single Man, as he walked the show). And, finally, Indian designer Manish Arora, renowned for his wild M.I.A. and Lady Gaga custom designs, seriously brought it. We loved his sequin bodices, race car skirts, and fantastical prints. In a word: dazzling.

This story was published on Jul. 22, 2010

Babel Fair Interview on LX NBC TV

Monday, July 5, 2010

Daily Candy Video Interview: Make Your Mark Women in Business


One Woman Show

Ever walk into a jam-packed boutique or read an inspiring article about a successful designer and think: How'd she do that?

The answer is blood, sweat, tears, and maxed-out credit cards. At least according to Rebecca Minkoff, Joanna Vargas, Ali Galgano, Wenlan Chia, and Erica Kiang - five women who started with a passion, fought hard, and came away with flourishing businesses.

Click here to view full video interview: Daily Candy Interview

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Time Out NY (April 15th Issue): Best Indie Stores



Every time we step into this minimalist, white-walled shop, we find something new to lust after. Erica Kiang opened the globally minded boutique in November 2009, and specializes in clothing, accessories and tchotchkes sourced from more than two dozen countries: jumbo weekender bags from Ghana, floral frocks from Australia, wacky watches from Japan and so forth. The prices might trip up budget shoppers ($259 art-deco heels or a $119 motorcycle coat from Japan, for example), but you’re unlikely to find this stuff anywhere else in the city.

Time Out Link

Sunday, February 14, 2010

www.grandlifenyc.com: Babel Fair


Babel Fair offers an exquisite assortment of funky shoes and eclectic clothes from around the world. Owner Erica Kiang hired freelance trend-hunters to scour every inch of the globe for the newest styles and most innovative looks, which is why Babel Fair stands out as one of the most prolific and interesting boutiques in downtown New York. The interior of the shop is whimsical and beautiful, giving the shopper an escape from the bustling streets outside. On one of the most up-and-coming blocks in NoLiTa, Babel Fair is welcome company amid the many chic shops the neighborhood has to offer.

Grand Life Link

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Best New(ish) Retail Stretch of 2009: Nolita (Racked.com)



It hasn't been the easiest year for retail—but every closure leads to an opening and when deciding on what new retail stretch or shopping neighborhood was our 2009 favorite we couldn't help but notice that streets south of Houston throughout Nolita, Bowery and the Lower East Side saw a lot of action.

Elizabeth St. in particular got two great additions in the form of Babel Fair's hard-to-find international designer fare and cheeky British sex shop Coco de Mer. We are also pretty excited about designer consignment shop PPF on Ludlow.

We know, we saw Gawker's Nolita Recession Map, but so did Bowery Boogie and they published a defensive missive stating—in detail—that there is a pretty burgeoning bright side that includes the recent neighborhood additions of Vince, Hayden-Harnett, Frock, JF Son, and others. So, put that in your pipe and smoke it, Great Recession.

Racked.com Link