Gennifer Birnbach TRUNK SHOW in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Shirley and Dick Bradley — owners of the Santa Fe Weaving Gallery — are hosting a trunk show on 2/10 at Alkeme restaurant on located at 227 Don Gaspar Ave.
To attend you must RSVP by Friday, 2/7 by calling 505-982-1737 or emailing SFWG@sfweaving.com
We spoke to Shirley Bradley who owns the gallery with her husband, Dick.
Did you always want to be a retailer
Yes! My husband and I both started our careers as department store buyers but then we both switched to represent several well-known apparel brands on the wholesale side which we sold to major department stores throughout the midwest. After graduate school we both moved into other industries. Me, newspaper publishing/marketing/strategic development and my husband the legal industry.
Our love and fondest work memories though were from our time in the retail industry. So when we left corporate America and moved from LA to Santa Fe, I started assisting the previous owner of the Santa Fe Weaving Gallery and fell in love with our artists and customers. So we decided to buy the Gallery in 2020. Not the greatest timing but we survived COVID and continue to grow the business. Our careers started in retail and will end in the retail industry. The industry that we LOVE!.
What would you do in your next life?
While there have been ups and downs in this life, I would live this life over again but with the knowledge I have gained from this life!
What are your Top 5 “must pack” travel items?
I always have 2 pairs of Alembika jeans in different colors with me, a top that will go with both and a scarf/shawl, my computer and my iphone!
What’s your favorite season and go-to wardrobe?
My favorite season is Fall. It always reminds me of new beginnings. I still get excited when our Fall merchandise starts arriving. Again, I live in the Alembika jeans in darker colors, the black Alembika punto pants and sweaters, lots of sweaters that are casual, warm and comfortable.
What’s your favorite Alembika style and what makes you love the brand?
Obviously I am obsessed with the Alembika jeans and punto pants. I love the brand because it is artsy with gorgeous color combinations and comfortable silhouettes. It fits a wide variety of sizes which is great for the Gallery. It is reasonably priced and each ensemble can be dressed up or down. It travels well. I was a little nervous when I first ordered Alembika for the Gallery. We did not sell a lot of pants at the time.
I bought 6 pairs of the black Punto Pants to test and they sold out the first week. I had to reorder them 5 times that season!
Shirley Bradley, Owner of Santa Fe weaving gallery
ABOUT
Santa Fe Weaving Gallery was founded in 1976 as an important contributor to the fiber arts movement by showcasing beautiful textiles as garments.
Over the years, the Gallery brought in an international influence by sourcing ethnic textiles and modern design. They broadened the category of fiber artists to include felters, dyers, embroiderers and designers… artists of the cloth in its endless possibilities. Many of the top-reputed surface designers have been represented here over the years.
Today, the Gallery continues to seek out and represent these artists and designers as they explore new frontiers in textiles. Paper is formed into jewelry, Tyvek is fashioned into raincoats, wool is felted with metallic threads. Wovens are designed on the hand-loom and finished on a computer-driven loom. Cloth is buried deep into earth or bound to rebar to adopt earthen tones. Metal is woven into jewelry.
As each generation explores and pushes the boundaries of the arts, so do our designers work to create cloth that is artisanal, innovative, exciting and new. Come explore our offerings. Many pieces are unique and will not be found anywhere else. Many of them are for everyday wear, and some are for special events. But none of them are standard issues.
Our wonderful Gallery staff are well-versed in our artists and designers, and their various techniques. We are happy to answer your questions, help you make your selection and tell you about our special pieces.
Santa Fe Weaving Gallery is located at 124—½ Galisteo Street in Santa Fe | Contact store for more details: sfwg@sfweaving.com | 505-982-1737
