LAUNCH is back….due to the success and positive feedback from the designers and visitors, Houston First Corporation and seasoned fashion influencer Sydney Dao re-launched the pre-Superbowl shop (click here to read our original story) of January/February on April 1 and it will remain open until the end of 2017.
“During the incubation period, we found that the store provided much more than just local designs. LAUNCH became a space for local, independent designers, many of whom work out of their homes or private studios, to network, build relationships and further develop their business skills, said Dawn Ullrich, President and CEO of Houston First Corporation.
The mission of LAUNCH, as stated on their website, is to showcase the best local designers and artisans based in Houston. Designers and artists are selected based on the criteria of quality and design. The pop-up boutique aims to promote and educate visitors and Houstonians alike of the high-level of goods designed and/or produced in the Bayou City. The vendors themselves will be representative of the diverse communities that make up the Houston Landscape.
After finally making a much over-do field trip by the MRG team to spend an afternoon with Sydney and some designers reviewing the offering we left with many highlights to share. Below are some of those…..
Burdlife
With its debut in March 2015, Burdlife continues its vision to provide the best quality jewelry and statement pieces for your collection. Owner Natasha Dadwani was born and raised in Pakistan, and brought her passion and craft to Houston, Texas, where her jewelry empire has grown.
Onata
Based in the heart of Houston, Texas, Onata is a fragrance boutique, offering all-natural soy candles and scented reed diffusers. The collection includes popular scents from herbs and essential oils, as well as more complex and unique fragrances designed by their team. All soy candles contain an all-natural, vegetable-coated cotton wick to reduce soot production while the candle is lit, while the soft wax burns smoothly and evenly for a linear fragrance release.
Anvil Cards
Handmade with love, ink and paper, Anvil Cards are created to bring people together and engineered to bring smiles to all. The collection, made in Houston, is growing daily with unique designs on signature luxe paper. Anvil Cards focuses on quality and hometown service, and each card is hand cut and hand folded every time.
Of Myth + Muse
Of Myth + Muse is an enchanting new fashion brand of modern romantic clothing for women.The brand is inspired by mythology and history, while also being influenced by modern muses of today. Emilia is the owner and independent designer for the brand, a native Houstonian who has been in the fashion industry for years, and has been involved with productions like the Academy Awards, The Grammy’s and America’s Got Talent.
Gooseworks
Gustavo “Goose” Gonzalez is the mastermind behind the GooseWorks brand. Apart from designing and screen-printing his own shirt line, he stays busy collaborating with other local artists and businesses in their graphic and printing needs. From musicians to local bars, GooseWorks’ artwork has been leaving a mark in the community for the past several years.
Modern Artifacts
Modern Artifacts looks to juxtapose unique textures with a modern aesthetic. Owner and designer Heather Wobbe draws her inspiration from her experience working on an Archaeology dig in Houston’s historic Freedmen’s Town, Curatorial Assistant for the Houston Museum of Natural Science and the Stone Fort Museum of Nacogdoches. Her work includes solid 14k gold, sterling silber, nu-gold, bronze, copper and shibuichi. She transforms her materials into individualistic and contemporary jewelry.
Inclan Studio
Her passion for fashion was developed early in life, and for Paola Contreras, owner of Inclan Studio, that passion has continued through her time in business to now. The brand itself focuses on mixing high-low fashion to create an individual style. Inclan is also available for purchase at Cotton Club Collection on San Felipe.
Magpies & Peacocks Inc.
Magpies & Peacocks Inc. is a Houston-based non-profit design house founded by Sarah-Jayne Smith – dedicated to the collection and sustainable reuse of fashion, textiles and accessories. Working with local students, educators, up-and-coming designers and artists in the Houston area. They create unique up-cycled collections from formerly fabulous donated items, provide a resource library of raw material for the creative community, and offer sustainability education.
Visual artist Robert Hodge teams up with Magpies and Peacocks to showcase art pieces in LAUNCH. Carlsbad Oster also teams up, a Texas-based designer specializing in textile, pattern design, drafting dyeing and more. The designer is the featured designer, showcasing her new collection inspired by Houston’s EaDo and Greater East End neighborhoods. Finally, Ebony McCan joins the group; a design student in Houston, showcasing her toiletry bags and other designs made from reclaimed Super Bowl LI materials.
Kimono Zulu
Tina Zulu of Kimono Zulu collaborates with artists and fashion designers to reimagine and embellish our vintage kimonos, modernizing them to be enjoyed as wearable art. Collaborations to date include Selven O’Keef Jarmon, Katsola, Jennifer Gabiola of Dawning Soul, Royal McGee, Mina Gaber, Soi K, and Judy Masliyah of My Flaming Heart with more to come!
Sydney Dao, Curator and Creative Force behind LAUNCH 
For many of us in the fashion/creative fields in Houston for many years, we have known to respect and be inspired by the creative talents of the Dao sisters. In this venture Sydney has taken the lead and curated through her many contacts several very talented artists and designers and has become their mentor in more ways than one. When asked about her newest, expanded role with Houston First, Sydney said, “I’m excited to continue this opportunity Houston First as there are a significant number of great designers and talent in Houston that could benefit from the networking and showcasing of their products from the epicenter of Houston. We encourage Houstonians and visitors to stop by every month to see what’s new.”
LAUNCH is located in the Houston Partnership Tower on the ground floor at 701 Avenida De Las Americas. The hours are: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m.- 5 p.m.
Photo Courtesy of Vicheka Im