Stress-Free Shopping

Holiday Pop-up Shop offers fabulous new gift choices and stress-free shopping

You could spend Sunday afternoon, fighting traffic, searching for a parking place and maneuvering throngs of stressed out shoppers at the mall or you could opt for a more socialized afternoon at the CultureMap Holiday Pop-up Shop at Silver Street Studios.

The second annual event on December 13 brings retailers with the best home accessories, jewelry clothing and gifts, so whether you’re a list-maker or spur-of-the-moment shopper, here’s a look at some of the new pop-up retailers.

Fashion Focus

If you follow the “one for you, one for me” shopping mantra, the array of clothing and accessory shops will fill your needs perfectly.

Monkee's of Houston brings jewelry, handbags, clothing and gifts from designer such as Black Halo, Trina Turk and Hunter Bell. Think modern, feminine and fun.

Kissue Boutique gives a girl clothing and accessory choices with a touch of sass and edge that you can and should, work into your wardrobe.

Love jewelry and accessories? Brenda Grands Jewelry is on-trend with tassel necklaces, druzy earrings and lots of options for the littlest glamor girls on your holiday list.

Olivia + Cate offers an earth goddess vibe with a large selection of handmade jewelry and Rowdy Design conjures up a chic Texas attitude with pave diamonds, beads and horn.

Yes, there’s also shopping for the guys, compliments of Paris Texas Apparel Co. and San Cristobal Guayaberas. Love the Lone Star State and a bit of humor? Paris Texas Apparel Co. encourages guys to embrace their inner Texan with bow ties, polos, plus barware and other Texas-themed items.

San Cristobal Guayaberas elevate the classic quintessential Latin American garment in a range of colors and styles. Don’t miss the collection of game day guayaberas which pay homage to schools like LSU, Texas A&M, UT and Ole Miss.

Shop For a Cause

Aspire at Brookwood Leather Products and The Women's Home Cottage Shop are community-based retailers that bring a broad selection of gifts and fashion items.

Aspire at Brookwood provides opportunities for growth educationally, emotionally, vocationally, and spiritually for adults with disabilities. Expect everything from jewelry and ornaments to small gifts and leather goods made by artisans with special needs.

The Women's Home empowers women in crisis regain their self-esteem and dignity, empowering them to return to society as productive, self-sufficient individuals and the Women's Home Cottage Shop serves as resource to help them exact their mission. Insider information reveals they are bringing brand new jewelry from a popular boutique chain, as well as scarves, ponchos and small gifts.

Home Accessories and Stocking Stuffers

This is the season of peace, goodwill and gifting, and Manor is bringing gifts galore to the Holiday Pop Up Shop. Home accessories, decorative touches, stocking stuffers and other whimsical lovelies are ready for a happy home this holiday.

Admission to the Holiday Pop Up Shop is complimentary, so reserve your tickets now. In addition to stress-free shopping, visit the Lexus Lounge for bourbon and bubbles or sip free hot chocolate courtesy of Bounce Energy. A host of delectable edibles will be offered by Revival Market, Common Bond, Good Dog Houston, Macaron by Patisse, PUCS Pop Up Coffee Shop, SlimRitas and Briggs True.

And finally, get that holiday glow at NuMe Express, Houston's first medical-mobile cosmetic facility (pre-book your appointment now).

It’s the very merry shopping event you’ve been waiting for.

The CultureMap Holiday Pop-up Shop runs from 11 am - 4 pm on December 13 at Silver Street Studios. Admission is free, but we ask that you RSVP. Valet parking (for $5) or complimentary self park are available. For one day only, you can shop all of the following:

Aspire at Brookwood Leather Products
Andrea Montgomery Designs
Baanou
Bartaile
beDESIGN
Brenda Grands
Briggs True
Cakewalk Style Shop
Common Bond
DePetra Art in Jewelry
Dripped Nails
DYI
Fig Tree
French Cuff
KB Kasuals
KISSUE
Kelly Kathleen Design
Macaron by Patisse
Manor
Monkee's of Houston
NuMe Express
Olivia and Cate Jewelry
Paris Texas Apparel Co.
Pomp & Circumstance
Revival Market
Rowdy Design
Saint Cloud
San Cristobal Guyaberas
SlimRitas
Souk Chic
Texas Beer Bus
Tres Chic
VAHA
Venom
WildBloom Boutique
Women's Home Cottage Shop
Zayver Jewels

Tassel and druzy necklaces with an earthy vibe from Olivia + Cate.

shopping

HAUTE HOUSTON

High fashion label Sachin & Babi makes rare Houston appearance

Photo courtesy of Sachin & Babi

Sachin & Babi is hosting an exclusive shopping event so Houstonians can snag pieces from their Resort Collection on November 12 from 5 to 8 pm at Avant Art Gallery.

Having dressed the likes of former First Lady Michelle Obama, Mindy Kaling, and Octavia Spencer, high fashion label Sachin & Babiis known for its attention to embellishment, color, and silhouette. Ahead of the sold-out Saks Fifth Avenue Fashion Show and Luncheon, where the New York-based brand will be headlining with ready-to-wear looks from their fall collection, Sachin Ahluwalia, one-half of the high fashion duo is making a rare in-person appearance in the Bayou City.

"We are thrilled to see what Sachin & Babi will bring to our Saks Fifth Avenue Fashion Show and Luncheon," Angie Lane, Houston Ballet's chief development officer, tells CultureMap. "Saks Fifth Avenue has been an invaluable partner over the years, consistently creating an engaging and dynamic show for Nutcracker Market luncheon guests."

The brand, which has a large customer base in Texas, has its sights set on more permanent digs and retail expansion in the Lone Star State.

"In Texas, fashion is embraced in the truest sense. There's a celebratory spirit and full-of-life energy that aligns with our brand ethos," said Ahluwalia. "Our goal in everything we create is to celebrate the women who inspire us and remind us why we do what we do. I have always believed that the most important component of a woman's wardrobe is her smile, and Houston has that joyfulness so ingrained in its culture."

We sat down with Sachin Ahluwalia to discuss the brand's fall collection and what we can look forward to from the label in 2025.

CultureMap: How would you describe your fall collection?
Sachin Ahluwalia: Each season, we're inspired by the nature surrounding us, but this fall, we were particularly struck by the captivating beauty of botanical flowers. We referenced some of our favorite photographers who have captured striking macro shots of oversized blooms, and from this, we focused on the romantic allure of a 'White Rose in Moonlight.' While we often envision roses bathed in sunlight, a rose is equally enchanting beneath the moon's glow. There's a subtle message there — a reminder that beauty can thrive even in the quiet of night.

CultureMap: What colors and fabrics are you leaning towards for fall and winter?
SA: This fall, we focused on deep floral contrasts on luxurious viscose chiffon, faille, and Mikado. As fall also welcomes the return to the social calendar and gala season, we emphasized intricate beading and embroidery, creating unique, wearable pieces that make her feel her best for all the celebrations ahead.

CultureMap: When you create a collection, who are you designing for?
SA: For the past decade, Sachin & Babi has been redefining what it means to dress for life's most memorable moments. We design to a level of sophistication rather than any particular demographic. Aiming to offer more than just a garment, we want to give our customers a transformative experience that celebrates each person's unique style and story. We dress her for her most special occasions because she deserves to feel extraordinary without compromise.

CultureMap: What has been inspiring you for your 2025 collections?
SA: We are inspired by the incredible women in our country. She continues to marvel and inspire us with her confidence, elegance, and beauty. We're committed to helping her feel her most beautiful for all of her special moments, big and small.

CultureMap: Do you think you will ever move away from your east-meets-west aesthetic?
SA: It's hard to divorce ourselves from our natural inclinations and DNA. Babi and I spent our first 20 years in India, but we've spent the last 30 years building our home in New York City. We embrace our natural propensity for color, craftsmanship, and embroidery from India and marry it to the lifestyle of the women we know and adore in the US. Our goal is to converge traditional Indian techniques with a modern sensibility to create ready-to-wear that feels made for you.

Photo courtesy of Sachin & Babi

Sachin & Babi held an exclusive shopping event in Houston.

sachin & babi saks fifth avenue houston fashion show sachin and babi

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High fashion label Sachin & Babi makes rare Houston appearance