We have a boutique to add to The 13 Chicest Vintage Shops in Pittsburgh. Ruhling Woven officially opened its doors in Upper Lawrenceville on September 22nd! Located at 5417 Butler Street, Ruhling Woven will offer “select vintage/second-hand apparel and accessories in minimalist silhouettes, natural fabrications, and solid color palettes,” said Kathleen Fanto, owner of Ruhling Woven. “I was an adolescent in the 90’s, which is just my favorite time. You will find a lot of simple silk and linen 90’s basics in the shop and new modern pieces to accompany them.” In addition to vintage, there will be handmade accessories, such as Kathleen’s signature clay earrings, and creations from other independent designers.
Kathleen developed Ruhling Woven in 2015 when she moved from Brooklyn to Pittsburgh. “I took a year to focus on creative efforts and learn a new trade, which is where the ‘woven’ comes in,” said Kathleen. “I taught myself to weave and was handweaving wall tapestries/woven wearable art and painting for most of 2015-16.” From there, Kathleen engaged in pop-up shops and participated in handmade and vintage markets like The Made + Found Market here in Pittsburgh and The Cleveland Flea. She fell into a rhythm of offering clean, minimal vintage pieces, creating one-of-kind handwoven and clay accessories as well as mixed media artwork.
The fleas and markets were beneficial for connecting with customers and other talented artists but settling in her own brick and mortar was always part of Kathleen’s dream. The Butler Street storefront came upon her by accident. She immediately felt connected to the space. This was the place to plant her artistic roots in Pittsburgh. After signing the lease in August, the shop was up and running in a little over a month. “When I found 5417, I already knew exactly what it would look like. It was all just placement/curation (plus laser focus and putting out lots of small fires) after that,” said Kathleen. The space is inviting with its white walls, dark floor and racks of curated color stories. Each piece is thoughtfully displayed making the shopping experience intimate and relaxed. It is not only a boutique, it is a place to connect with high-quality vintage clothing, wearable art and whomever walks in.
Follow Ruhling Woven on Instagram or visit the website for the latest shop updates and new arrivals!
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.