Ladita: Sweet as an organic gluten-free cupcake
Quaintly nestled in San Francisco's dreamy Bernal Heights district at 827 Cortland Avenue, Ladita is a darling little eco-boutique in that could be described as "similar to Anthropologie, but much better for the environment." Even for someone whose overtly girly side is as repressed as mine, it will prove impossible to resist Ladita's quiet charm. On my visit, scented (soy) candles bouqueted the store with the abstract but pleasant aroma of wildflowers, the soft, fuzzy sound of old folk LPs purred on the vintage record player and, in an almost suspiciously perfect touch, a lazy cat (the owner's pet) napped under the cash register in a swath of warm afternoon sun. If a shopping experience could be distilled to a soothing cup of tea, this would be it.
There is no shortage of the lovely and the whimsical at Ladita, but Christine, the owner, is also a practical businesswoman, and her store is stocked with crowd-pleasing brands like James Jeans and Ella Moss, which complement more specific, eco-oriented labels like Stewart + Brown, Taxi CDC, and Sworn Virgins. Ladita offers a comprehensive and well-edited baby department, which includes Kicky Pants and Speecees, both favorites with eco-leaning moms and dads, as well as Erbaviva, a wonderful line of bath and body products for babies and moms-to-be.
Christine, the owner, showing off a Kicky Pants dotted onesie.
For those who no longer require baby clothes, other brands like Sworn Virgins, which makes slinky little garments out of organic bamboo, and Stewart + Brown, the versatile eco-label that experiments with a variety of textiles, from Japanese tissue cotton to tencel gauze to hemp silk charmeuse, are sure to delight. Some of my favorite selections currently in stock at Ladita, below:
The white Stewart + Brown blouse at the front of the rack is made of Japanese tissue cotton, a thin, organic cotton fabric that feels like a mix between silk and linen.
This dress is by Taxi CDC, a label from LA that makes beautiful little pieces out of already existing vintage fabrics, which is probably the most eco-friendly approach to clothes-making, as these garments do not require new materials being made or wasted. This is one-size fits all empire-waist tube dress that can be worn also as a skirt if you remove the ribbon.
Kim White, another eco-designer that reconfigures ready-made materials, creates fun and eccentric bags out of fabrics taken out of vintage cars. Note the "Camaro" bag - we love it! These fabrics make sense to be reused in handbags, as car fabrics are known for their durability. As they stand, these fabrics have already been around for 30 years, so they'll definitely last another 30 - at least.
Ladita has been open for less than a year, but it's already becoming a quick favorite with eco-oriented fashionistas in Bernal Heights and beyond, with good reason. Despite the fact that Maggie Mudd is a block down the street, you'll be hard-pressed to find anything sweeter on Cortland Avenue than this store.
Ladita
827 Corland Avenue
(between Ellsworth St & Gates St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 648-4397
www.shopladita.com
digg •
del.icio.us •
sphere •
google
•
