Boston's Best Boutiques & Specialty Shops That Opened in 2015
Boston is a thriving hub of artisans, makers and, of course, savvy shoppers. A reflection of this are the gorgeous, Instagram-worthy shops that opened this year. These five boutiques are Boston's new favorite ways to shop locally, ethically and sustainably. From makeup and home goods to hats and bags, Boston's shopping scene has never been better.
Boston General Store
305 Harvard St.
Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 232-0103
www.bostongeneralstore.com
Boston General Store just opened in Fall 2015 and is a great addition to downtown Brookline. The charming boutique features handmade gifts and goodies not unlike the much-loved Olives and Grace in Boston's South End. Their beautifully curated selection is modern rustic, with most of their items in hues of brown, black and white with minimalist designs. They offer everything from kitchen and office accessories to bags and pet care supplies.
Follain Beacon Hill
65 Charles St.
Boston, MA 02114
(857) 233-5211
shopfollain.com
Follain is the most exclusively curated boutique of healthy, effective bath and beauty products in the U.S. They opened their second brick and mortar location in spring of this year in Beacon Hill. The Charles street shop offers 50 brands of nontoxic, American-made products including skincare, haircare, cosmetics and men's grooming. The new shop is also three times the size of Follain's first location, so they are able to host lots of great events in the new space! The shop attracts visitors from around the world and has quickly built a loyal base of customers and small business partners. You'll recognize their refillable glass soap bottles in shops and restaurants across the city!
Lindsay Tia
407 W. 1st St.
South Boston, MA 02111
(857) 939-0427
www.lindsaytia.com
Another wonderful boutique that opened just this fall is Lindsay Tia. The small shop in South Boston sells cute tote bags and accessories that benefit great causes. Lindsay Tia is a young entrepreneur with a powerful vision which is best embodied by "the bravery bag," for $99. With every bravery bag sold, $10 is donated to USO New England, supporting local troops and their families. Lindsay Tia's boutique is about more than shopping for handmade fashions — it is about finding the hero within.
Bee's Knees Supply Allston
1316 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA 02134
(617) 277-2337
www.beeskneessupply.com
Boston's trendiest grocer, Bee's Knees Supply, opened its second location in early 2015. The Allston shop gives a whole new population access too this hip destination. Bee's Knees is a high end deli, wine shop, restaurant and cafe all in one — not to mention the interior design is every instagrammer's dream. The shop is the latest venture of Chef Jason Owens, who also runs American Provisions in South Boston.
148A Salem St.
Boston, MA 02113
(415) 622-7534
wcworkshop.bigcartel.com
Probably the most unique specialty shop that opened in Boston in 2015 is William Carlton Workshop. Bringing authentic craftsmenship back to Boston's North End, the workshop is a destination for custom hats. The quirky destination is a delight to the area's tourists, and a breath of fresh air from the many, many restaurants and cafes in the neighborhood. Though the shop technically opened in December 2014, the ridiculous winter kept most Bostonians from checking out the workshop until 2015. William Carlton makes gorgeous, high-quality hats in a studio decked out with vintage furniture and art that makes the early 20th century truly come alive.
Cameron Bruns is the founder of BostonGreenBlog.com and co-author of Just Us Gals Boston. She lives in Boston's North End, where her goal is to promote ethical, stylish, and sustainable lifestyle choices to all Boston residents. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
