Mireya Acierto

Pivot

1101 W. Fulton
(entrance on Aberdeen)
312-243-4754 or
pivotboutique.com

September 7, 2007

Just as they are with food, people are becoming more curious about where their clothes come from and how they’re made. And as the market has expanded—largely on the Web—environmentally responsible processes and sustainable materials have lost their association with scratchy fabrics and shapeless silhouettes. Jessa Brinkmeyer says she opened her new boutique, Pivot, to show Chicagoans firsthand how nice eco-wear can be. “People really need to touch the fabric, try things on,” she says—like the soft and strong fabric made from bamboo, for instance. It reportedly has antibacterial and antimicrobial qualities, too, and doesn’t need to be washed as often as cotton. It’s used in, among other things, a dark denim skirt with white trim and embroidery by Undesigned by Carol Young ($230). Pivot also carries plenty of pieces in organic cotton. One stunner, a gray dress by Beau Soleil, incorporates a single wide adjustable (and removable) shoulder strap and rosette made from recycled leather ($325). Accessories include bags and wallets made from old leather jackets or skateboards and jewelry made from bike parts. Brinkmeyer points out that the lines are by “small designers creating quality pieces,” which accounts for the prices—although really they’re no higher than what you’d find in any higher-end boutique, and some jewelry can be had for as low as $15. —Heather Kenny

Zara Skokie 66 Old Orchard Center	The Dressing Room Shoes Lincoln Square 4657 N. Lincoln	Succezz South Loop 1329 S. Michigan	Grasshopper 510 Bucktown 1944 N. Damen
Belmont Army Lakeview 855 W. Belmont	Phaiz West Town 673 N. Milwaukee	Andersonville Galleria Andersonville 5247 N. Clark	2 Sisters West Loop 1167 W. Madison
Golden Age Pilsen 1500 W. 17th	Pivot West Town 1101 W. Fulton	Charlotte Russe Loop 10 S. State	Renegade Handmade Wicker Park 1924 W. Division
Gray Old Town 1361 N. Wells	Florodora South Loop 330 S. Dearborn	A.Okay Official Lakeview 3720 N. Clark	Intermix Gold Coast 40 E. Delaware
Bess & Loie West Loop 1015 W. Lake	Gamma Player Wicker Park 2035 W. Division	Malabar Bucktown 1880 N. Damen	Mia Mora Logan Square 2639 W. Fullerton
Roslyn Bucktown 2035 N. Damen	Ouest West Loop 1063 W. Madison	Kaveri Lincoln Park 1211 W. Webster	Lissa on Maxwell University Village 729 W. Maxwell
TK Men Bucktown 1909 W. North	MNG by Mango Downtown Water Tower Place	Doggy Style Pet Shop Wicker Park 2023 W. Division	Sweden Shop Albany Park 3304 W. Foster
Permanent Records Ukranian Village 1914 W. Chicago	Michelle Tan Wicker Park 1872 N. Damen	Akira Bucktown 1814 W. North

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