We know that our Holiday Show can be a little overwhelming sometimes: 350+ designers and artists, open bar, snack station, free drinks, photobooth, and a DIY den is a lot to process once you get to the show. So we're making things easy on you by releasing our map + list of vendors early. Plan your visit in advance and WIN this Holiday Season! Click images for full resolution.
Take a peek at some of the UNIQUE NYC photo recap selects. For more photos, check out our Flickr page.
Quick reminder that UNIQUE NYC is debuting it's first annual Holiday Show this weekend. You can purchase pre-sale tickets here and help us spread the word about our event here.
Cost: $10 at the door, or buy online to also get a free ticket to the OC Fair! Kids 12 and under are free. 10% of all ticket sales go to the local non-profit organization GreenWish.
Admission includes: • An exclusive UNIQUE LA tote bag! • Unlimited re-entry for both days • Free drinks from our friends at The Naked Grape Wine, Hendrick’s Gin, O.N.E. Coconut Water, Honest Tea, GT’s Kombucha, Diabolo Drinks and more! • Free DIY workshops + crafts all weekend long in the Toyota Retreat with I SPY DIY and SWELLMAYDE • Free photo booth portraits and a print at the Oh Snap Studios Photo Booth • Our curated food truck alley, so you can enjoy lunch, snacks or a sweet treat • Live screen-printing, a Braid Bar, massages, a lenticular photo booth and more (all free)
We also wanted to thank our amazing partners, whose support made it possible to expand to the city. Toyota worked with us very closely to create an area filled with free interactive activities such as live screen-printing, hair braiding and massages (yes, free massages!), kick-butt DIY crafts and more.
A very special area that we offered at UNIQUE SF was an Analog Zone, which was created by my good friend Levi of The Digital Detox. In this 'device-free' area people could get their portraits taken, type letters, partake in yoga, play board games and more. It was really inspiring to see everyone interacting live, in real time, and not typing a play-by-play about the cool area on their phones!
Oh Snap Studios offered unique portraits at their live photo booth... You can download yours here.
Were you snapped? Make sure to take a peek at all the rad photos here.
Once upon a time, a man named Chris Erven walked into a bar and hit on a woman who had a boyfriend. That woman introduced CJ Thomason (her then boyfriend, now a friend) to the guy who hit on her (ahem, Chris Erven). Little did they know at the time, that this magical yet awkward moment would lead to a beautiful friendship, and a super awesome eyewear brand named Sire’s Crown qv.
A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough that Chris Erven didn’t screen my call when I had old-fashioned-telephoned-him to introduce myself. It was a brief hello (he was on the other line with a client), but after the emailing back and forth, it was easy to see that these guys were not only businessmen, but businessmen who enjoyed their work. Don’t you just love that?
Check out our little Q&A sesh to learn how Chris and CJ make the magic happen.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Springfield, Missouri and CJ in San Angelo,Texas.
Where do you live now? How long have you been here?
Culver City for 2 years, CJ on a boat in the Marina for 2 years.
What was the inspiration to start Sires Crown?
I would always tell CJ that I wanted to start my own line of frames, so he thought with my optical background and his knowledge of wood we could make something special.
Why glasses?
I have 15 years experience as an optician and 9 years in design.
What does Sires Crown mean? Is there a story behind the name?
We came up with the name Sire’s Crown q.v. because we wanted the name to be like American Royalty. The q.v. abbreviation after Sire’s Crown is Latin for quod vide and translates to “of sight or which see” so we think of our frames as modern day crowns. After all your crown represents your thrown.
How long have you and CJ been working together?
CJ and I have been working on this project for 6 years.
Describe your roll at Sires Crown.
I design the frames and fill the RX’s and CJ is the craftsman although we both wear a million hats. CJ and his wife did all the work on the website and do more developmental aspect where I do most of the selling to larger accounts.
Do you wear glasses?
I am super near sighted and require specs full time whereas CJ uses them for shades only.
Tell us about your involvement with Trees For the Future.
For each frame we sell we donate to Trees for the Future. For every frame sold at the wholesale level, we have 20 trees planted and for retail sales we have up to 100 trees planted.
Can you describe the process of making one pair of frames?
There are many different facets in manufacturing our frames. We have Mazzuchelli imported from Italy (cotton fiber/wood pulp) substrated and we have those cut down to our designs. Then we have the OBE hinges imported from Switzerland. After our frames are cut down we apply a wood veneer to the eco substrate and hand sand and finish them in our loft downtown. We tried solid wood frames for several years but were unhappy with the durability.
What’s your favorite part about it?
My favorite aspect of the process is finishing a frame as it looks raw before sanding and finishing it. Afterwards they come to life and ALL look incredibly beautiful.
Where’s your favorite place to eat in L.A.?
The Little Door although I have not eaten there in a while because it’s kinda pricey.
What’s your least favorite thing about L.A.?
Traffic stinks here but I’m super excited about the subway opening up in Culver City a mile from where I live!!
Top 3 things you can’t live without.
My peeps (family and friends), my macbook, and internet porn. Just kidding on the last part. My eyeglasses because I’m blinder than a bat.
Favorite TV show at the moment?
With an 18 month old I don’t really have time to watch TV. CJ just said his is Game of Thrones.
Most inspiring website or blog?
npr.com and newsmap.jp
Any hobbies besides making sweet frames?
While the frames are curing we like to hit a few games of ping pong. I am pretty much like Forrest Gump.
THANK YOU CALI! Last weekend's 4th Annual UNIQUE LA Spring Show was a huge success with over 16,000 shoppers coming to support our great designers/artists. Some of our favorite moments include watching 9-year-old Caine (of Caine's Arcade) take pictures with fans and see kids shout with glee as they played his cardboard games; seeing all the families/kids treating Mom to gifts and sweet treats; being a tad starstruck while meeting amazing musicians Tegan and Sara, and Paramore; and getting to see all the great products and designs from first-time vendors while finally meeting ones from Portland and NYC face-to-face.
We're excited to share that we raised thousands of dollars for our non-profit partner CicLAvia, who you should check out and go to their next ride on October 14th. Here are a handful of pictures from the show, you can browse them all and look for yourself on our Flickr page! If you'd like to download your Oh Snap Studios photos from the weekend, click here for Saturday and/or Sunday. We loved having I Spy DIY, Swellmayde and the Craft and Folk Art Museum on-hand to teach free craft projects to y'all all weekend. Thank you to all the great sponsors who help to create such a cool environment and handout freebies - it wouldn't be the same without you!
Our next shows? We've got our very first UNIQUE SF June 30 & July 1, and then we head to the Barker Hangar for our UNIQUE LA Summer Show. We hope to see you soon!
We want to thank everyone for coming out to our 1st annual Local Love event, which we held February 11 & 12. It was pretty amazing to see so many people sharing their love for LA while getting gifts for their loved ones - we even spotted a few crushes shopping, including Ty Burrell from Modern Family, Fiona Gubelmann (We heart Wilfred!) and John Boyd from 24. We'll definitely do a Local Love Event every February from now on! Remember to keep your UNIQUE key tag (shown above) on your keychain to get discounts and exclusive event invites in the future - you are part of the Local Love club!
And the winners are... Thanks to everyone who stopped by the UNIQUE booth to enter the JetBlue contest... Congrats to Lucie P. and Jason S. who each won a round-trip flight to the destination of their choice in America!
Oh Snap! Did you stop by the photo booth? You can get your electronic pics here. To see more of our official UNIQUE photos you can visit our Flickr page.
The UNIQUE LA Holiday 2011 show is officially over and we wanted to thank all of you (attendees, vendors, sponsors, staff) for making it the biggest and best we've had so far! Even though the show is over, we're right back here at the office editing pics, looking through the footage we've filmed, and (of course) planning our next show, which may happen earlier than most of you think! Anyway, here's a few pics from Day Two; if you want more, feel free to jump to our Flickr.
I'm sure by now you've heard from everyone and their mother that UNIQUE LA has taken over all of Downtown LA. All I can tell you at this point is that today has been our biggest first day EVER! Here's a few pics from today.
Usually, the UNIQUE LA staff has barely any time to do any shopping during the actual show. This time we're coming prepared! We each picked 5 (believe us, we'll buy waaaay more) items that we just can't wait to purchase this weekend.
1. Miss Fruitfly Watts Towers tea towels / 2. KYYOTE earrings / 3. Ayana Designs necklace / 4. Orange Heat kids tee / 5. Nell and Mary pillows
1. Gold feather Jewelry Rings / 2. Loschy Designs Russia necklace / 3. Essential oil by Klean Spa / 4. Future Standard Blouse / 5. Cut out map of Brooklyn by Lekker Haas
1. The Legendary Guy Long Air Yeezy 3D / 2. MNKR Amazing t-shirt / 3. The Whiteout monkey mask / 4. Creme Caramel LA bread pudding / 5. Paper & Type 2012 Calendar
1. Sires Dylan Thomas (Walnut) / 2. Graf & Lantz Messenger Bag / 3. Hugh Simms Any Means Herringbone Tie / 4. Love Nail Tree Harmonica Necklace / 5. Ex Libris Anonymous Handmade Journal
Discover great independent designers and artists, support your local economy, and take part in community. We make it easy to shop small and have a blast while supporting the city you love! Meet and shop from the actual designers and artists, selling everything from jewelry to home decor and furniture, stationery to men's leather goods!
Last Friday we threw a launch party for 
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