By Diana Cavagnaro
New East Village boutique
Wild Dove SD is a new contemporary boutique in East Village. Owner Rachel Hunt saw a void in neighborhood boutiques and thought this would be a perfect time to open one. Hunt has a bachelor’s in fashion merchandising from Illinois State. After graduating, she worked in retail for 10 years with companies such as BCBG and 7 For All Mankind; equipped with all this experience she decided to open her shop in this destination city.
Hunt wants her customers to have an effortless style with a multifunctional and casual-chic look. The target market is 20 to 65 years olds and she wants to focus on sustainable clothing that is all made in the U.S. One of her core sustainable brands is Amour Vert, made in San Francisco. Another is Gentle Fawn, which is a brand with an edge that tends to be more bohemian. The clothing in the store is trendy but not so trendy that it will not last a long time.
Hunt also has accessories in the boutique with local designers such as Luna Norte from La Mesa, Craft and Foster candles and JaxKelly candles, which is a gemstone- and crystal-inspired brand. Each one of these soy candles has a crystal inside. Another brand is Killem With Chic, with its trendy T-shirts with slogans such as “I don’t give a Chic.” This brand was recently featured during Fashion Week San Diego and Wild Dove SD complimented the line for a knockout look on the runway.
Hunt said her goal is to service the local community. Every neighborhood needs a great boutique and she wants to be that one shop.
I asked Hunt what was in the future for this trendy boutique.
“I will start an expansion in the spring so the store will be 1,500-1,600 square feet,” she said. “We will have more fitting rooms and I will be adding lingerie and shoes to the merchandise.”
For a great shopping experience, stop by Wild Dove SD at 740 Market St.
Fashion and technology
The Visions Art Museum presented Fashion and Technology Nov. 12 in Liberty Station. The guests mixed and mingled with wine and hors d’oeuvres while fashion students and professors from San Diego Mesa College brought the runway alive with their designs for one exciting evening. These garments literally lit up the runway with LED lights and fiber optics. The audience was awestruck by all the new innovations and amazing creativity. The fashion show was narrated and curated by Susan Lazear, professor of fashion at Mesa College.
Visions Art Museum is a nonprofit organization that’s goal is to create an international community with the appreciation of quilts, textiles and fiber as fine art. For a list of their upcoming lectures, workshops, or exhibitions, visit visionsartmuseum.org. For more information on the Fashion program at San Diego Mesa College, visit sdmesa.edu.
Upcoming events
Dec. 11 | Gaslamp Pet Parade — The San Diego Union Tribune Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade, presented by VCA Market Street Animal Hospital will be held at the MLK Promenade Park in the Gaslamp Quarter. This is your chance for owners and pets to don their favorite costume and join this fun day, which includes a pet expo. The event benefits San Diego Humane Society and the San Diego Police Foundation with the K9 Unit. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/zrjykb7.
Jan. 8 | Winter Bridal Bazaar — Kicking off 2017 is the Winter Bridal Bazaar, with fashion shows presented by Gretchen Productions at the San Diego Convention Center. Three shows presented throughout the day. For more info, call 760-334-5500.
—Diana Cavagnaro is an internationally renowned couture milliner based in the Historic Gaslamp Quarter. Learn more about our hat designer, teacher and blogger at DianaCavagnaro.com.
