New in Town: P&L's Garment District focuses on Locals

At The Garment District, a new collective of boutiques in the Power & Light District, you can sip a mimosa while shopping for trendy jewelry, clothes and accessories. 

Watch out, wallet. 

The Garment District, 1350 Main St., contains nine mini boutiques surrounding a concrete bar. It's all housed in a dramatic, three-story-tall room with big windows, wooden floors and white walls. Naked mannequins and antique dress make up the minimal decor. 

The store opens to the public this weekend. On Saturday and Sunday, everything's 15 percent off, and on Sunday, shoppers can sip free bloody marys and mimosas. 

At The Garment District, local is in. Eight of the nine mini boutiques are locally owned, including City Girls (locations in Gardner and Salina, Kan.), Denim Couture (Overland Park) and Imagery (Leawood). Kansas City designer Christian Micheal has his own display near the bar. There, he sells his lime-green, purple and paisley silk ties, as well as blazers embellished with military details. 

General manager Randall Schneck said The Garment District was recession-friendly. 

"We have accessories for as low as $5, and clothing starts at $25," Schneck said. 

You're also covered if you have expensive taste. We spotted William Rast jeans, Ben Sherman leather jackets and pendants made from silver bullets by Zani. 

Urbantique, a locally owned boutique located in the back corner of The Garment District, near the posh dressing rooms, sells bohochic jewelry from City Kitty, a locally curated line, as well as galoshes emblazoned with Mizzou logos and the most adorable handmade tank tops by Love People clothing. 

Jodi Perez, the Lenexa designer behind Love People, said she sews vintage necktie fabric onto drapey tanks to create unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. Her designs sell for $15 for a cuff to $48 for a hoodie. 

Perez said it's "kind of a dream" to sell her line at this new downtown boutique that combines shopping with entertainment. 

After all, Perez said, "shopping is entertainment."