April 13, 2007

It’s International, Dahling

Travessia Gallery and Boutique Opens

People used to traverse arctic archipelagos and trudge across wastelands to get their hands on unique fabrics.

By tomorrow it’ll just take a quick stop by Travessia, the LES’s new art gallery and boutique.

Owner Hiroko Rodriguez’s curatorial aptitude makes the small space a retail standout. Prints and installations hang alongside tightly edited garment collections — where the clothes are constructed like pieces of art.

Some exclusive (and might we say exceptional) brands include Japanese label Klasica (workman overalls and linen tops), Starstyling (sweatshirts with over-the-top ruffles), Noma (ornate textile tops and leggings), and African label Mwanga (unisex tees with heavy beading).

Yeah, it’s a crash course in advanced fashion, too.

Deciding between Harumi Ori’s plastic wall relief or Robert Mars’s paper bag paintings is a tough call.

But you’ll cross that bridge when you come to it.

Travessia, 176 Stanton Street, between Clinton and Attorney Streets (212-477-7771).