Fashion and culture blog for Los Angeles

Last week we reported that International Playground, the international-focused boutique out of New York’s Lower East Side, is opening in the old Mohawk General Store space in Echo Park. Owners Johnny Pizzolato and Virginia Craddock are officially saying hello to their new neighborhood with a party on Thursday night featuring complimentary Bandit wine, treats from Babycakes Bakery and 20 percent off all purchases. But Style Section L.A. readers get 25 percent off through August 21st, just by mentioning our name. No need to thank us, it’s all in a days work.

Thursday, August 12. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. 1102 Mohawk St., Los Angeles. internationalplayground.com

Photo: STUDY dress, $160. internationalplayground.com

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Mohawk General Store, the awesome Echo Park boutique owned by Generic Surplus co-owner Kevin Carney and his wife, Bo, has officially moved to a new location at Sunset Junction in Silver Lake. But like good neighbors should, they found a suitable new tenant before leaving.

New York-based International Playground will be moving in on August 12. And they’re bringing their stable of up-and-coming design talent from across the globe.

International Playground’s John Pizzolato was at the Designers & Agents trade show with partner Virginia Craddock earlier this summer, where they ran into the Carneys and discussed the plusses of retailing in L.A. A couple weeks ago, Pizzolato got a phone call from Kevin asking if he was interested in opening in their old location. And though it was, uh, kind of short notice, it didn’t take much for him and Craddock to make a snap decision to expand.

“We just kind of looked at each other and thought, ‘yeah,’” Pizzolato said from outside his new digs, where he and Craddock were busy building out their new store over the weekend.

Like their location on Manhattan’s lower East side, the new space will also act as a wholesale showroom for many of the underground, conceptual brands they carry at retail. Expect to find pieces from Swedish designer Helena Fredriksson, Denmark’s Vibe Johansson and Russian-born Yelena Konovalova’s Cut-it-Out label. There’s also great work bags from New York brand Ernest Alexander, jewelry by Martine Ali and — not to be missed — a series of garment cages by Chromat, a line founded by an urban planner and an architect.

“And of course we’re going to get some L.A. designers in, too,” Pizzolato assured. And the duo is also busy trying to pay their good real estate fortune forward by finding a fellow New York friend to move into the old Sirens & Sailors space next door.

Hey, the more the merrier.

1102 Mohawk St., Los Angeles. internationalplayground.com

Photo: International Playground owners John Pizzolato, left, and Virginia Craddock

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I prefer my bodies of water to face the right way. Which is probably why I’ve never been to the Hamptons. But if I ever were to visit New York’s answer to Malibu I’d be sure to stop by Edition, Brooklynite Peter Hananel’s pair of low key, beachside boutiques. With two locations — one in East Hampton, the other in Montauk —the stores are a nod to the younger, cooler, downtown Manhattanites summering at the shore (you know, the ones who aren’t named Muffy and don’t yet carry a Judith Leiber jeweled asparagus).

Edition’s well-curated collection of breezy, casual gear will appease both sexes with labels including Band of Outsiders, Steven Alan and Unis, along with a stellar selection of shades from Oliver Peoples and Selima Optique. And for those who prefer their Hamptons time to be spent, you know, at the beach, 28 year-old Hananel has sourced surf boards and an offering of reading material that includes Brett Easton Ellis novels and copies of Monocle Magazine. Rumor also has it that Society for Rational Dress designer Corinne Grassini is designing the uniforms at the Solé East Resort, where Edition’s Montauk outpost is located. Even more reason to check it out.

This is all good news for East coasters. But what about we-with-the-better-sunsets?

“I’m definitely looking at spaces in L.A.,” Hananel says.

We’re waiting with baited breath.

Edition Southampton, 38A Jobs Ln., Southampton.

Edition Montauk at the Solé East Resort, 90 Second House Rd., Montauk.

www.editionnewyork.com

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