Super Shopping

Pop-up shop showcases creative Houston fashion, jewelry, and home accessory designers

Houstonians are a colorful and creative bunch. It’s a fact locals know well, and with the unveiling of LAUNCH at the downtown Houston Partnership Tower, visitors have the opportunity to experience that vibrant energy firsthand.

LAUNCH is a collaboration between Houston First Corporation and Sydney Dao, the style setting creator of Squid Inc., a public relations and marketing firm.

Together, they sought out some of Houston’s brightest and most creative fashion, jewelry, and home accessory designers, giving them a lofty space on the bottom floor of Partnership Tower just in time for the Super Bowl. The 13 artisans create everything from handmade leather goods to colorful, globally-inspired dresses. Most of the designers chosen for LAUNCH don’t have a brick-and-mortar presence, so LAUNCH is the ideal space to elevate their brands while reflecting the city.

“Houston is a melting pot and Houston First wanted designers that mirror the city. The designers chosen for LAUNCH are high quality and have a sophisticated style,” Dao said during a tour of the pop-up shop. “LAUNCH is an incubator for the creative community, coupling economic potential with creative talent.”

Dao curated the 13 designers for LAUNCH and considered everything from accessible inventory to design aesthetic. LAUNCH designer collections include Chloe Dao, RongRong Devoe, Onyii, La Mochi, Temple Street, A Leap of Style, Marilyn Biles, Kisa Kisa, Stateline Designs, Brenda Grands, Claire Drennan and Stash.

Each collection is focused on the handmade art of design and is hyperlocal. Claire Drennan Knitwear is hand-loomed on vintage knitting machines in Houston’s East End while Stateline Designs are hand-printed. Anna Mae Holmes Temple Street jewelry collection includes the aptly named Westheimer piece, a druzy stone and gold-dipped chain necklace with mini-tassels.

“I just feel like it encompasses the spirit of Houston in just one piece,” Holmes said.

The spirit of Houston is exactly what Houston First public relations manager Leah Shah envisioned when working with Dao on the project.

“These artisans speak to the diversity of the city and this is the perfect launch pad to showcase that talent,” Shah said.

LAUNCH is open through February 26. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. Parking is available across the street and throughout the area and the MetroRail Green line runs along the Houston Partnership Tower.

Artist Marilyn Biles transfers her paintings to silk and cashmere scarves.

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Stepping Up

RodeoHouston teams up with Texas bootmaker for limited edition collab

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Lane Boots

Photo courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™

Each part of the boots ties back to the key elements of the HLSR.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) concert lineup has been announced, and concert tickets have gone on sale, which can only mean one thing – it is time to get rodeo ready. For 20 days in March, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is taking over the NRG Stadium complex, where Houstonians will display their best Western-inspired attire.

This year, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo collaborated with popular Texas-based brand Lane Boots on a one-of-a-kind limited edition collection. Muffy King, director of marketing for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, designed the boots with help from a team of experts at Lane Boots. Together, they looked at what is trending in existing boot designs and the fashion industry as a whole to come up with a unique look.

"It was important to us that the boot meant to celebrate the 2025 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo be representative of the 'Cowboy Core' aesthetic that is a major influence in fashion right now. These fundamental choices were a natural way for us to incorporate and represent our mission-driven pillar – Western Heritage," King tells CultureMap.

Each part of the boots ties back to the key elements of HLSR. The round braid on the sides represents the ropes used in competitions. The starburst effect around the star and the state of Texas symbolizes the lights on the RodeoHouston stage. The Texas on the back of the boot highlights HLSR's focus on supporting education in the Lone Star State. Departing from Lane's recognizable blue-soled boots, these feature a distinct orange sole with the HLSR logo stamped on the bottom, reflecting the branding seen across Texas ranches.

With designs for both men and women, the boots are exclusively available online. Photo courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

"We wanted to showcase the unique feature Lane has become known for in Western fashion, but with our own Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo flare," said King. "For both the Rodeo and Lane Boots, this was a real testament to the partnership and collaboration that took place to make these boots a reality."

The boots were released online earlier this month, and according to King, they are "flying off the shelves quickly" and have been met with an overwhelmingly positive response. Lane Boots produced 2,025 pairs of boots at their factory in Leon, Mexico. Each pair has an individual stamp and a special message on the inside of the boot shaft.

"The story behind the boot naturally lends itself to being relatable to many individuals across all walks of life," King says. "It was a very seamless process that resulted in an aesthetic that allows whoever wearing them to incorporate their own story and personality into the boot."

With designs for both men and women, the boots are exclusively available online. If any inventory remains when the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo begins, they will be available at the Lane Boots location in NRG Center.

Photo courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™

Each part of the boots ties back to the key elements of the HLSR.

boots western wear western style rodeo houston