Delve into the Rose City with our Portland 2021: Inspiration Guide, where our insider, Cassandra Rosenthal, highlights a metropolis surrounded by nature, with a thriving creative, retail and culinary scene that prioritises community over competition and supports local, sustainable enterprises.
You can find many community-focused events, such as the Portland Night Market, Portland Flea, Come Thru Black & Indigenous Market, and My People’s Market, hosting local retailers mixed with emerging designers, local artisan bakeries and food purveyors, vintage vendors, artists, craftspeople and musicians.
Upcoming brands focus on sustainability, inclusivity and cheerful design. Retro-inspired athleisure brand Gazzy by Gazzo brings playfulness and joy to activewear. The pieces can be worn for any activity, from swimming to yoga and the club, and are all gender-inclusive. From activewear to workwear, Native American-owned, premium denim collection Ginew is the only brand of its kind in the world. Founded by a husband and wife duo, they infuse a workwear-inspired vibe with traditional motifs to celebrate their respective tribes. The pieces are all hand-built using pre-industrial methods.
Retailers focus on the individuality of Portland's fashion scene. 811 Shops is a collection of distinctive and unique stores such as Coy&Co, the city’s first sustainably certified florist who supports ethically and sustainably produced products. Regular art exhibitions and pop-ups to support local creatives are also hosted by 811.
Portland is becoming a cultural hub for all things creative, with the likes of Stephanie Chefas Projects showcasing fresh contemporary artwork. The gallery, located in Central Eastside, highlights a diverse range of artists and focuses on cultivating new talent. The City of Roses is transformed into the City of Lights in the Portland Winter Light Festival, where light, art and technology are combined. The festival is free and renewable-energy powered, featuring interactive experiences including illuminated art, kinetic fire sculptures, silent discos and an illuminated bike ride.
In food and drinks trends, chefs and bakers are pushing the boundaries of what you can expect from vegan cuisine. Plant Based Papi offers comfort food including jackfruit nachos, mac ‘n’ cheese and its famous Papi Burger, whilst Ice Queen is the first plant-based popsicle shop in the world.
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