Treehouse

Treehouse

Photo: Treehouse

Neighborhood: Williamsburg
Type of Place: Designers

Description:
Walking into Treehouse, you might suddenly want to be a clothing
designer, even if you don't know how to thread a needle. Or you may want to
be a crafter, though glue, wool, and anything crafty has failed to
compel you in the past. Such is the store's snappy, happy, can-do allure. At
the least, you'll want to hang out here and get to know the shop's
owners and the designers it represents. While I shopped, friends drifted in
and out, dinner was ordered, and laughter bounced freely around the
cozy room.

There's so much to like here that I hardly knew where to start--or
where to end. If I'd tred to take notes on everything that caught my eye, I
might be there still. Currently, around 22 designers are featured,
offering clothing for men and women, crafts, jewelry, and accessories.
Plus, there's a big lightbox displaying the work of local visual artists.
Most of what's shown throughout the shop is locally made and
one-of-a-kind.


Treehouse is the brainchild of co-owners Siri, who designs the Sirius
clothing line, and Rebecca, whose jewelry line is called Becky Lee; they
planned the shop for four years before opening 3 months ago. One of the
dresses I gravitated toward turned out to be from Sirius--a great
hand-sewn magenta knit ($98). I also loved the bags from a four-sister team
called 31 Corn Lane (I'm guessing the name was their childhood
address)--especially two charming navy-and-red designs based on girlhood icon
Holly Hobby (from $30; and by the way, beyond their great designs, they
deserve big credit just for being four sisters who are working
together, not only functionally but happily). The Feral Childe line, known for
its use of unconventional materials (pajama flannel, boiled wool,
whatever it is that wetsuits are made of) grabbed me with a shiny,
disco-sexy blouse ($88) and a cheery windowpane-pattern skirt ($80).


If, indeed, the "I wanna!" bug bites you while you're here, you're in
luck: Treehouse hosts crafting classes at the shop, so you can learn
embroidery, knitting, bookmaking, and how to turn your "junk to jewels."
(The knitting instructor, Kim Hamlin, knit a gorgeous woolen tree during
the shop's opening that now stands proudly among the wares.) And in the
small but well-chosen "vintage corner," great-looking knitting kneedles
sell for $8. To keep you going, there's an in-shop design-resource
library, so you can stop in to look at craft books and gain inspiration.
It's absolutely in keeping with Treehouse's welcoming approach to offer
such a thing, and it's a popular feature; but this shop is an inspiration all on its own.   - Pamela Grossman; Nov 12, 2006

Treehouse
430 Graham Ave.
(bet. Withers and Frost)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
718-482-TREE
Website
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