Moss Envy
Calling itself “the convergence of shopping and consciousness,” Moss Envy is the new incarnation of the old shop Twin Cities Green. Reopened June 19 in West Minneapolis, the store—designed by local HGTV Design Star alum Josh Foss—boasts 2,500 square feet of retail space dedicated to local crafts, energy-saving appliances, and organic linens and furniture. Since moving, owners Tina and Ryan North have added eco-conscious clothing, makeup, and vintage home goods to their inventory, while the extensive selection of all-natural children’s and baby products is a stylish, earth-friendly resource for new moms.
3056 Excelsior Blvd.; 612-374-4581.
Patina
Looking for unique gifts with an earth-conscious slant? This local chain is a Minneapolis favorite for kitschy bath products, stationery, home design, and everything else you never knew you needed. The large selection of whimsical recycled and sustainable wares—which ranges from water bottles to computer-part clipboards—is sure to yield a souvenir or two.
Various locations.
Sacred Rearrangements
Outfitted with bright-yellow walls and Art Deco chandeliers, this Zen-eclectic boutique is also a wellness center. Shoppers can find an Eastern-inspired mix of meditation tools, organic bath products, and vintage clothes and home decor, while those looking for a full-body experience can sign up for yoga, acupuncture, chakra massages, and ritual chanting sessions. Determined to do away with wasteful tendencies, Sacred Rearrangements offers feng shui consultations for customers looking to breathe new life and serenity into their existing decor.
3505 W. 44th St.; 612.926.8200.
Nola Home
Sleek, modern Lee Industries couches and chairs—made with soy-based, recycled-fiber-filled cushions, organic fabrics, and water-based wood finishes—are now available through showroom consultations at this beloved home boutique in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood. Shoppers who seek international design but don’t want to leave the country to get it will be happy they stopped by—Nola also carries fair-trade goods, expertly curated with an eye for colorful, earthy style, from all over the world. Bamboo bed linens are a great find, as are the impressive selection of woven rugs.
404 Penn Ave. S.; 612-374-4066.
Tangletown Gardens
It doesn’t get much greener than a space filled with shrubbery. Founded by University of Minnesota horticulture alums, Tangletown Gardens is Minneapolis’s premier garden store. Spend a few hours strolling through an oasis of more than 3,000 sustainably raised perennials, heirloom vegetables, and aquatic plants, then stock up on top-of-the-line—and often ergonomically designed—tools necessary for maintaining your own garden. Committed to the “buy local” manifesto, the shop—which dates back to the 1930s and used to be a Pure Oil gas station—also stocks wares from local jewelry and garden-statue vendors.
5353 Nicollet Ave.; 612-822-4769.
The Bibelot Shops
At these friendly little gift shops, the shelves are lined with recycled blocks and crayons, colorful bins woven from old magazines, and ingenious cleaning tools made from peach pits and corn cobs. For those looking to bring a piece of the Midwest back to Washington, Bibelot also features quirky products made and designed in Minnesota that don’t feel like cheesy tourist souvenirs, such as tree-ring cutting boards and shampoo bars.
Four Twin City locations.
Design Collective
Picture windows, wood floors, and soft-green walls give a calming, organic look to Christine Nguyen’s haven to local fashion talent. Clothes, jewelry, and accessories—of a decidedly sweeter aesthetic than items found in similar collectives in New York—come from more than 70 Minnesota designers and are sold at prices that won’t cause shopper’s remorse. If you’re hoping to support small business and in the mood for a sassy, one-of-a-kind piece, this is the place.
1131 W. 26th St.; 612-377-1000.
Sarah is the Editor-in-Chief of Washingtonian Bride & Groom, and writes about weddings, fashion, and shopping. Her work has also appeared in Refinery29, Bethesda Magazine, and Washington City Paper, among others. She is a Georgetown University graduate, lives in Columbia Heights, and you can find her on Instagram at @washbridegroom and @sarahzlot.
