New York - June 29, 2005

Maiden Voyage

Maiden, Brooklyn Opens

That idea about restoring the means of production to the people may not have sparked the revolution that Marx was gunning for, but it sure is having a moment in Williamsburg.

To wit: Maiden, Brooklyn — less communist collective than artistic fun house. The new shop is based on a simple concept: Give artists a place to showcase their stuff. Like skirts by singer Julia Darling and pillows made from sweaters that used to belong to designer Miss Teen Buffalo’s ex-boyfriend.

Everything (clothes, furniture, jewelry, art, CDs) is fun, cool, and more accessible (and affordable) than you’d expect from the high-concept crowd. (Take Brad and Tim, two art school buddies who may or may not use Seven Blank Spaces as their official label. Annoying. Except for the fact that they call their funky leggings Swiss Cheese Floral Affair Sexy Leg F—- Yay. And you want them.)

The soccer tees and furniture were made by Radek Szczesny, who pioneered the whole initiative, transforming a former gallery into a retail and work space (there are three artists’ studios behind the store) in less than three months.

Which just proves what we can accomplish when we’re not working for the man.

Maiden, Brooklyn, 252 Grand Street, between Roebling Street and Driggs Avenue, Brooklyn (917-379-1111).