Pulp Lab, Ballard's renegade retailer, snares exclusive fashion designs by 'Project Runway' alum Sweet P

Local renegade retailer Pulp Lab is known for selling clothing, accessories and body care by emerging designers, eco-friendly labels and brands that have the cultlike following that only viral marketing can create. Between their Web site and their lifestyle lab that hosts pop-up retail events, Pulp Lab is always on the cutting edge of cool.

Pop-up retail is a concept in which the retailer sets up a temporary location (in a mall, a vacant storefront, at a park, etc.) in order to reach new customers and create a buzz about their products. This technique works well for the types of one-of-a-kind and limited-edition products that Pulp Lab sells, since exclusivity is part of the allure.

For her latest buzz-generating event, Pulp Lab owner Kate Pawlicki has teamed up with Season 4 "Project Runway" alum Sweet P and her husband, Sage Vaughn, to present a "capsule collection" -- a small, limited-run clothing collection -- called "Ghosts in the Garden."

Pawlicki meet Sweet P through a mutual friend and recognized a kindred spirit. Since participating in "Project Runway," Sweet P has been looking for unique design projects, so she and Vaughn set out to collaborate on a Pulp Lab-exclusive collection that combines her clothing designs with Vaughn's visual art.

The result is "Ghosts in the Garden," six hand-sewn pieces using fabrics like white silk chiffon, bone-colored lambskin leather and wool, which have been hand-painted using high-pigment dyes and are inspired by the images in Sage's paintings.

The six pieces include a cape, a wool and leather dress, a chiffon and leather gown, an asymmetrical ruffle dress, a corsage dress and the gorgeous wool flannel dress that was featured on a recent episode of Bravo's "Top Design."

The garments range in price up to $1,500, and will be displayed in the windows of the Alexis Hotel, Clutch, Kimberly Baker Jewelry, Retail Therapy, Pulp Lab and Tulip from Oct. 2 through 31.

The entire collection can be previewed at the Seattle Art Museum on Friday, Oct. 3 as part of "First Fridays: SAM Remix," a monthly event at SAM that combines art and turntables in a "happy hour" atmosphere.

On Nov. 1, Havana will host a reception for Sweet P and Vaughn from 7 to 9 p.m., at which Pulp Lab will take orders for two more of each style of dress, sized to order, to be delivered in four to six weeks.

In addition to the six-piece collection, there will be 12 wool and leather cuffs with a butterfly screen print in black or winter white (around $150), as well as limited-edition T-shirts for men, women and kids (from $35). The entire collection will be on sale at pulplab.com from Nov. 1 though Dec. 31.

For more info and for a link to tickets for the reception at Havana visit pulplab.com.

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