Pop in at the pop-up
Hintonburg’s designing duo Twiss & Webber expand horizons,
Pop in at the Twiss & Weber pop-up boutique this weekend and you’ll likely see more than fine fashions and funky accessories. You’ll probably catch the Hintonburg designers and good friends — Laura Twiss and Tonia Weber — dancing and belting out tunes.
The two operate a small showroom and teach sewing classes from their store — a former ice house and more recently a hair salon — on Armstrong Street. To give themselves a bit more exposure, the pair are temporarily setting up shop in a vacant space (formerly Alteriors) in West Wellington to introduce shoppers to their beautiful, handmade, ready-towear creations.
Packing a tropical punch, shoppers should expect to see a bright spring-coloured palette with abstract and geometric prints running across leggings, vests, scarves, dresses and pretty blouses. Many of the items are one-of-a-kind and hand-dyed and hand-felted so there’s no worry you’ll be wearing the same outfit as your neighbour.
The two have given their clothes quirky names such as the HB Skirt (pencil skirts), the Delta Dawn Top named for Tanya Tucker’s country song and the PBJ (yes, Peanut Butter and Jam) Dress.
Max’s Footwear Boutique & Cobbler and Chelsea’s James Michael Brooks will also be taking part in the pop-up venture by bringing in their shoes and belts respectively.
The moms each graduated from fashion school and have a passion for eclectic fabrics and well-constructed clothes.
“We are both knitwear designers and kept bumping into each other at craft shows,” says Twiss, who spent 13 years working for Muriel Dombret, while Weber worked at Wabi Sabi.
In 2010, they joined forces and rented space in the lofts above Enriched Bread Artists on Gladstone Avenue to sell knit and felt items such as hats and wrist warmers. A year later, they moved into their Hintonburg shop.
“We both live in the neighbourhood and walk to work. We love what we do and where we are,” says a beaming Twiss.
Watch a video as Laura Twiss and Tonia Weber discuss their pop-up store at ottawacitizen.com/life