RISE UP PHOENIX
APPAREL . ART . ACTIVISM
Most good ideas seem to start over a pint with good friends and in that way the new boutique in downtown Phoenix is no different. Birthed out of conversations in pubs in Bend Oregon and Phoenix Arizona the idea of having a flagship store for Rise Up was something that quickly gained traction and movement. We began to dream in the style that has given Rise Up its definition, that is we dreamt big and then started to believe that with the creativity and resources that come through a community committed to justice and beauty we could do anything we wanted. All of this was taking place in the early fall of last year.
By December we began the process of looking for locations and assembling the team of people that would be able to turn this dream into a reality. We wanted to have a boutique that would reflect the things that animate us in life. We wanted to be close to the growing arts community in the downtown Phoenix area. We wanted to be close to public transportation and the ASU downtown campus because of our belief in sustainable living and education. And we wanted to have a store that itself was a work of art instead of another retail box that lacks any true diversity. With those values in mind we located a space at the ground level of the historic San Carlos Hotel, right in the heart of the Phoenix skyline.
In the beginning of 2008 we started the process of tearing out the old floors, fixtures, and walls. We found furnishings in gurneys and church pews, looking for items that had contributed to the process of helping and healing individuals and families as we embarked on a similar process through the unlikely avenue of fashion. The store started to take shape and we found other brands that would compliment our commitment to art and activism (Obey, Insight, Toms Shoes, Grn Apple Tree).
The doors first opened to the public in the middle of March for our “soft opening”. We have begun to establish ourselves in the community as a store that is committed to apparel, art and activism. We are connecting people with the international humanitarian work that Rise Up is doing in Nicaragua, India, and China. We are also committed to making social changes on a local level through some initiatives we will be working on in the Phoenix area. As a start we are working with an organization called Humane borders in putting water stations in the desert to look after the lives of migrant families. We are also partnering with a start up organization called Phoenix Copper Bikes that is committed to bicycle advocacy as well as providing affordable transportation to the working poor.
Last week we had two huge Rise Up launch parties. We had a DJ’d house party and a night of acoustic music at the hotel San Carlos. This was a grand opening weekend to celebrate the store, the work that Rise Up is doing in the world, and the friendships we are forming as we collectively seek to help children rise up out of poverty. We are excited about the future of the boutique as a hub for people who are in to fashion, art, and making a positive difference in the world. The store is located at 204 N. Central Ave, Phoenix AZ 85003 and the online store will be coming soon at www.riseupstores.com . For more information on how you can be involved please contact Kevin@riseupinternational.com.
