The just-opened womenswear boutique is a treasure trove of emerging indie labels from around the globe (with an emphasis on Ukrainian makers).
Plus, viral candy store Lil Sweet Treat sweetens up on Chestnut Street and Old Navy’s beloved Flag Tee is ready to celebrate.
Mission Creek now has a standout clothing boutique. Meet deMain. It’s deMajor.
(Courtesy of deMain)
Fashion girlies, gird your loins, as they say: A brand-new concept store inspired by the likes of Dover Street Market and 10 Corso Como has landed at 2865 18th Street (between Bryant and Florida Streets). Its mantra? Fashion, craft, and culture.
The intriguing newcomer, deMain, is a 1,400-square-foot beauty filled with independent and emerging makers from around the world. Silk charmeuse and leather statement pieces from newbie Mexico City label Amkie Gamus mingle with knitwear from La Fetches (with roots in Glasgow and Paris) and hats from Ukrainian designer Ruslan Baginskiy, a favorite milliner of everyone from Beyoncé and Rihanna to Madonna and Pamela Anderson.
Also in the mix: a smattering of New York labels, including Kat Zarra, Hanna Yoo, and Masha Avina, along with established names like Re/Done and Hereu, plus a thoughtful selection of apothecary goodies. (Don’t sleep on Sangre de Fruta’s luxe bath and body products.)
Store owner Dana Krastev is especially proud of her curation of made-in-Ukraine brands—and for good reason: “I moved to San Francisco from Kyiv as a child, and I’ve always held the country and its people close to my heart. Even with the war still raging, the creative community there continues to produce beautiful work. It was important to me to support and celebrate it.”
Wandering the playful yet sophisticated space punctuated with large-scale sculptures and unexpected design elements is like going on a sartorial treasure hunt. Though eclectic, there’s a clear throughline: craftsmanship, thoughtful production, and storytelling. “Sometimes that’s expressed through traditional techniques with a modern twist, sometimes through upcycling, or a focus on materiality,” says Krastev. “But there’s always intention behind what the designers create.”
Wondering where the store name came from? It’s a play on the French words for “tomorrow” and “by hand.” Magnifique!
// 2865 18th St. (Mission Potrero), demainstore.com
Lil Sweet Treat has sugar fiends rushing to Chestnut Street for a fix.
(Courtesy of Lil Sweet Treat)
Lil Sweet Treat’s pick-and-mix candy shop has been causing quite a stir—and plenty of snaking queues—since debuting in SF a few weeks ago. (The Marina hasn’t seen this kind of viral buzz since a certain chicken caesar wrap came to town.)
The mini chain is adored for its highly curated, ever rotating selection of sweets (and sours) from Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and beyond. Bay Area candy cognoscenti have been happily filling their logoed bags to the brim with colorful noms—gummies, jellies, marshmallows, and more—in playful shapes, satisfying textures, and endless flavors.
Aside from the holy-moly candy itself, the sense of discovery is surely what’s catapulted the New York-based brand to Insta and brick-and-mortar fame. Does it get any better than grabbing your own fire-engine-red scoop and digging into bins packed with signature Strawberry Milkshake foamy gummies, Happy Hopper bunny-shaped treats bursting with fruity flavor, and marshmallow-like Swedish Bubs in quirky flavors like banana/toffee?
Um, we think not.
Lil Sweet Treat founder Elly Ross was on hand for the opening, beaming with pride: “The Bay Area is home to such a strong community of candy connoisseurs, one we've been lucky to connect with through social media since before our very first store opened in September 2024,” she says. “We’re thrilled that they can now experience the store in person!"
// 2209 Chestnut Street (Marina), lilsweettreat.com
America’s big birthday is almost here. Old Navy’s iconic Flag Tee is poised to party.
(Courtesy of Old Navy)
It may not be celebrating the big 2-5-0 this Fourth of July, but Old Navy’s signature Flag Tee is turning 32. That’s pretty fireworks and-apple-pie worthy in its own right, we do declare.
Whether or not you wear your patriotism on your sleeve (or shirt), you surely know someone who does. For many, Old Navy’s signature Flag Tee (redesigned every year and available in sizes for babies through adults) is an integral part of the holiday, family photos, and easy red, white, and blue dressing.
“The Flag Tee has become a cultural touchpoint that generations of families have made part of their summer traditions,” confirms Sarah Holme, Old Navy’s head of design. “Exploring its evolution through our archives reflects Old Navy's enduring role in shaping accessible, optimistic American style.”
No matter your style stripes, there’s sure to be a (green) Flag Tee for you.
// Shop Bay Area stores, or online, oldnavy.gap.com
