Design Collective

Oh, my local addiction. I can’t even count the number of pieces I have from this store. All of the clothing, accessories, and jewelry are made by local, up-​and-​coming designers, and, despite having a small floor space, there’s quite a bit of variety in terms of style. The clothes are well-​made, and I even had one of the designers alter a dress for me because it was a little big (at a whopping 5 feet tall, I’m used to paying an arm and a leg for alterations; when you shop THIS locally, though, the designers just want their work to look good on their real-​life models).
Christina is friendly, super sweet, and has a great eye. She’ll help you find what looks good on you, and make you feel great about what you’re buying. The selection rotates frequently, so, if you find something you love, I suggest acting quickly; it probably won’t be there the next time you stop in. I haven’t ever seen anyone else wearing the clothes I’ve bought at DC, so you know that whatever you pick out is as unique as the person wearing them! If you want to support local, you couldn’t do it at a better boutique than this.

Design Collective sells goods from local, emerging designers. The selection is small, but it changes all the time so it’s always worth a stop if you’re in the neighborhood. I’d agree with Ralph M.‘s review when he says, «If you have never called an item of clothing ‘a piece,’ this place may not be for you.» It’s not pretentious, it’s just the nature of most boutiques.
If I were more up on the local fashion scene (read: cooler), I’d probably shop here a lot. As it is, I stop in occasionally and browse. I’m pretty sure I’ve only bought one thing here over the years and it was a tiny wallet that I use when I’m going out with a tiny purse. Small as it may be, it gets a lot of mileage.
Usually the jewelry and accessories catch my eye more than the apparel, and they definitely have solid options if you’re shopping for a fashionable lady in your life. The last time I was here I really hemmed and hawed about this cropped jacket from Frances Zerr (who I know is a local designer because I met her while karaōke-​ing once… hey Frances!). They had quite a few of her pieces on display and collections from a number of other designers. Ha, guess I do use the word «piece» to describe items of clothing sometimes… so that’s why I probably like this place. :)

the local designer stuff is fun to look at, but i didn’t entirely gravitate toward any of the pieces when i went. i did enjoy perusing the fun cards and knicknacks though, and was especially delighted by the awesome mpls-​related t-​shirts, fantastic selection (on american apparel shirts too!).

My recent purchase of a palm sized pillow with «Fuckstick» stitched across the front pretty much speaks for itself, I think.

Save your pennies, fellow Minneapolitans!
This place is full of the locally cute, sassy, classy, and just plain cool. If you like to piece shop, this is definitely the place to come first. They have a wonderful selection of bags, good clothing, and jewelry that are really meant to be «statements» and so if you’re one of those people that is good at spending a lot on quality things you’re really into– make a little coffee can bank dedicated to your next Design Collective run.
They also have a nice variety of cute accessories, so if you’re more a small statement person like I am, you will still find some great stuff here. And it won’t break the bank to do it.
I am all about supporting local business, so I like to stop in periodically when I have some extra money~ which is never lately, but hopefully that will change soon!

I love this store! It’s my favorite place to shop in the city. It’s small, but still has a great range of designers and items. Everything from jewelry to underwear to T-​shirts to evening gowns. I particularly like Rectangle Designs, Foat, and Greyline. It can be a little pricey, but it’s totally worth it for hand made, MInnesota grown, one-​of-​a-​kind objects like these. Plus, it’s not any more expensive than an Ann Taylor, or even an Express. Staff is always friendly, a very enjoyable shopping experience.

If you would like to spend an un-​Minnesotan amount of money on unique, locally designed clothes, this is your place.
I don’t mean to say they are very pricey, but this sure ain’t Target.
Here’s a hint: if you have never called an item of clothing «a piece», this place may not be for you. I requires a certain aesthetic sophistication the riffraff just couldn’t understand.
I’m not even sure myself if I’m mocking the place or praising it. Probably praising it, while trying to fully admit the appropriate clientele is limited and selective. It’s the small, expensive (kind of) boutique you’re afraid to go into.
It’s okay, go in. They don’t bite. This is Minnesota, they’re friendly. They’ll ignore you if you like, or help you if you like. No condescension here (I swear!).
I found something for my girlfriend here. I hope she likes it. It’s the kind of place I like shopping in and supporting, and I really like that it’s in the neighborhood. I rode my bike here (in December). Now how cool is that?

I can’t wait to come home for Thanksgiving to go shopping here! Although NYC does have stores built around the same concept (to showcase independent local designers) the prices in Manhattan and Brooklyn for equivalent unique pieces are about 5 to 10x as expensive as they are here! People who have never lived outside of MPLS don’t have the perspective to see what a great deal this place is in ALL regards.
Although I wish this place was as vast as a department store it is certainly large and well-​curated enough to house plenty of wares that catch the eye. The last time I was here I walked out with an amazing off – the-​shoulder formal/​cocktail dress in silver and orange with little origami-​box details sewn on the strap, a great skirt with a really interesting angular waistlne and pockets [!, I LOVE pockets on skirts], and two I heart MPLS t-​shirts. I think I only spent about 250 $. On average in Manhattan that’s on average only HALF the price of a cocktail dress of similar workmanship.
I also find that the items here tend to be a lot more liberally creative in their design than do those in any of the traditional high-​fashion cities. It’s more like what you’ll see in the Barri Gotic in Barcelona or off of Stroget in Copenhagen than in the small shops in NYC, Paris or Milan. Which is great for me, since I prefer things that are a bit bolder and more freewheeling and fun. The funny thing is that I always get tons of compliments when in said high-​fashion cities on items I’ve purchased here! It’s really great to have a resource like this and I hope that it makes it through the recession.
I really never dreamed that I would miss shopping in Minneapolis this much! Only a month left.

So, I finally had the time to make a stop in and check out this place. I’ve constantly heard so much about it, and… Finally!
I’m not so sure how I feel about the place. Honestly, I thought the prices were crazy, and the clothing was mediocre. I was in there looking for some new clothes. Nothing really in particular, just spending the day shopping and thought I’d stop in.
I was in here for about 20 minutes and didn’t really find anything that I needed, or would really want to spend $ 100 on.
Don’t get me wrong, the clothes and accessories are unique in their own ways, I just didn’t feel right about them. that is probably my own issues though.
It is worth a stop in. I want to go back in like a month to see what new stuff comes out. I’m hoping to eventually buy something that is really cool from here to remind me of MPLS whenever I wear it… but I’m still looking.

i love design collective. it’s a great place to buy locally designed clothes. you can buy yourself (or someone else) a truly unique gift there. they have some really great jewelry. they also sell this cute, sinister line of badass cards called «maybe you should die.» i bought my ex-​girlfriend a card with a rainbow heart on it that said «i’m gay for you.» in retrospect, probably not the best card choice but i thought it was funny at the time.
if you’re walking around the uptown area, you simply MUST stop into this store! ask to see the «gray line» collection; i saw some cool gray line pieces the last time i was in there.

I really do enjoy the Design Collective and its owners. However I find it way too pricey, turning off a lot of its targeted clientele. It’s pricier even than the nearby Cliché, which has better original pieces. An «I love Mpls» t-​shirt is 30 bucks! That’s a pretentious price if you ask me. They have really funny, acerbic stationary and an eclectic, slightly affordable jewelry. I think if they lowered their prices a little they would do a lot better.

the wife got a ring here last year, and it is really cool. like a metal birds nest all twisty and such.
we went back and I asked the girl (whose *girls* were totally ready for a friday night if you know what I mean) if they had mens clothes.
they told me that there are these scarves here and these hoodies here and the t shirts there and I totally wasn’t interested.
And not because of her girls distracting me, but because I have enough hoodies, and i hate tshirts with stuff on them and the scarf was ugly.

Come one come (um) most. The Design Collective is a sexy shop with a minimalist setup that highlights the array of fashion pieces inside.
But what about me!?: Bois, Ladies, Andros, and bikers may all find something in here. Did I mention they have hot skull wear and booty covers (boxers and such)? IF you area local designer ask about getting your work in –bring samples.
Fashion is sooo expensive: Don’t believe the hype! Have you spent fifteen dollars on a shirt at Wal-​Mart or $ 30 at Urban Outfitters? Go in and support your neighbors. You’ll only add to the beauty that is you.
The owner is friendly, knowledgeable, and skilled. You can expect nothing less from the designers in this collective shop! If you want cutesy knick-​knack this is not the place. If you want high quality fashion from local designers at a good price head on over. Many t-​shirts are printed on American Apparel and maybe some on alternative apparel. The jewelry lineup is impeccable! I do have a favorite designer for earrings and bracelets so hit me up if you are curious.
P. S. You’ll find some etsy sellers in there, too.
P. P. S. Dear global neighbor, that Tea Garden place on the corner is nice, too. And I hear there is a theater around the corner –hot spot in Minneapolis.

If Southdale or the Galleria are your fav places to drop your credit card, then this place is not for you. See ya! More for me then! This is a very dangerous place for those who want locally designed clothing that is well made (sometimes a challenge with small designers), unique, and surely to garner some compliments. But, as other reviews have pointed out, sizing can be a challenge… so if it fits, buy it then and there. If it doesn’t, drop by often, and eventually you will!

Tired of shopping @ the same old department stores? Design Collective offers an outlet for local artists/​designers in the Twin Cities to showcase their talent. They carry products from chic tops to cute jewelry to adorable stationery, etc. You might just discover your next favorite artist before he/​she gets really big!

This place is adorable! Plus you get to buy unique designs that you can almost guarantee that you won’t see 1000 others wearing, unless you like that sort of thing and if you do than stick to the abercrombie and Fitch shit. The only bad thing about this store is that samples are produced by local designers, and not mass produced, and so they don’t have much of a selection in terms of sizes. If you find a garment you like chances are it might not fit and there usually is only one sample available.
I have purchased several wallets and accessories from this store and all have, for the most part, held through rough times. I mean, if a wallet made out of duck-​tape can last longer than 2 months– that is some good craftsmanship.
If you love, or even like, fashion hit this place up– it is worth it.

Design Collective is the kind of store that you (I, at least) just have to go into when you walk by (if you like shopping for clothes). You might not run into it unless you walk around the north end of Uptown a lot, but I suggest you go.
The clothes are all made by local designers, many are one of a kind, and the prices are low. LOW! Hip, local designer clothes! A lot of the pieces are exclusive, so you can’t even see them anywhere else. For people who like to look good AND different.
Sorry, guys — the shop mostly stocks pieces for women, but there’s always a little something for men. And there are t-​shirts to be had.
I particularly love the dresses — they hang in the window and that’s a big piece of what brings me in the door over and over again. So pretty!
Downsides — sizing! Sometimes there’s only ONE dress, shirt, pants, and it won’t fit. So think of your visits as adventures, sort of like thrifting, except with the possibility that you’ll find something perfect that was made here in Minneapolis by a designer who might be famous in a few years. But you wore her first!
Did I mention that few things cost more than $ 100?