Shopping news

Dallas retail veteran debuts luxe new 'tree house' boutique at Highland Park Village

Even the trees are pretty at this pretty new second-floor shop.

Photo courtesy of The Conservatory on Two

Well-known Dallas retail pro Brian Bolke is not letting a little worldwide pandemic-induced economic plunge deter him from debuting a new luxury boutique at Highland Park Village. He is boldly opening the doors to The Conservatory on Two on Wednesday, May 20.

The shop is his second outpost in Dallas of The Conservatory in Highland Park Village (which will remain open) and The Conservatory’s third location, with a fourth expected to open in Napa Valley in early June. The original Conservatory debuted in March 2019 in New York’s Hudson Yards.

That's a lot of Conservatories to keep track of, but here is what to know about the all-new Conservatory on Two, which is the news here:

It is a 4,000-square-foot sun-drenched “tree house” upstairs that is a hybrid gallery-boutique. It will be the company's most comprehensive gallery for its website, and will house more than 175 brands and 2,000 different products, a release says. Categories include women’s and men’s clothing and accessories, jewelry, wellbeing (beauty + treatment, bath + body, and candles + fragrance), and living (decor + objects, books + paper, and gifts).

New brands showcased include renowned art gallery Lehmann Maupin (featuring an inaugural show by artist Angel Otero) and Phaidon, with an exclusive 60-title library of art and design books. The Conservatory will also carry more than 40 collections that are new and exclusive to Dallas, including Another Tomorrow, Leret and Leret, Salle Privee, Votary, Lisa Eisner, Eva Fehren, Maison d’ Etto, Asprey, Saved Cashmere, Costa Brazil, and Metier London.

"The items on display are constantly being rotated with new items to discover, creating a new experience each time a client visits," the release says.

Bolke, who calls his philosophy "Considered Luxury," says he has been embracing and implementing principles of sustainability, slow fashion, and a shared economy since conceiving The Conservatory almost three years ago.

Now in these COVID-19 times, when consumers may be hesitant to enter physical stores, he says The Conservatory’s established protocols are ideal. They include a low touch model featuring visible product tags with thorough descriptions and prices under washable plastic or glass, as well as Bitly links on all products to explore products online and provide the opportunity to purchase later from home. Virtual shopping appointments, individualized private in-store previews, and contact-free delivery are standard, too.

According to Texas Gov. Greg Abbot's plans to reopen Texas, retailer stores can be open at 25 percent occupancy currently.

“We are providing the ultimate luxury in shopping today — plenty of space, plenty of natural light, and the store was designed with a feeling of calm," he says. "We want our clients to have a high level of comfort and feel relaxed.”

To many Dallasites, Bolke is still best known for launching retailer Forty Five Ten two decades ago. Bolke has been a tenant in Highland Park Village continuously since 1995; the luxury shopping complex not only houses two “Conservatory” locations but also the home office of The Conservatory. Bolke is also a familiar face in Dallas arts and philanthropic circles, including chairing the Dallas Museum Art's glamorous Art Ball in 2020-2021.

The Conservatory on Two is located at 100 Highland Park Village, Suite 205. Entry is accessible via an interior elevator bank between Chanel and Starbucks. Hours are 10 am-6 pm Monday through Saturday.

openings shopping

RETAIL WATCH

Texas AG Ken Paxton opens investigation into fast-fashion giant Shein

Photo courtesy of SHEIN

Shein is now under investigation from the Texas Attorney General.

Critics of fast fashion have found a strange bedfellow in Ken Paxton. The Texas Attorney General announced December 1 he would investigate online retailer Shein for alleged unethical labor practices and unsafe consumer products.

According to a release from Paxton’s office, the inquiry aims to find out if Shein’s “supply chain and manufacturing practices violate Texas law by using toxic or hazardous materials, misleading consumers about product safety, and misleading consumers about ethical sourcing.” The probe will also look into the corporation’s data collection and privacy practices.

In a statement, Paxton put a partisan spin on the investigation.

“Safe, non-toxic material and products are another key ingredient to [Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s] Make America Healthy Again movement,” said Paxton in the release. “Any company that cuts corners on labor standards or product safety, especially those operating in foreign nations like China, will be held accountable.”

Paxton’s move unexpectedly aligns the AG with environmental watchdogs. Nonprofit Yale Climate Connections has long sounded the alarm about the Singapore-based e-tailer, calling it one of the world’s biggest polluters. Paxton has long railed against climate change regulations and sued the Biden administration several times to block emissions rules.

The investigation is part of a larger Republican crackdown on Chinese consumer products. On Capitol Hill, lawmakers are debating new restrictions on Shenzhen-based aerial drone maker DJI, and Senator Tom Cotton has called for investigations of “Communist Chinese” companies Shein and Temu. The September Texas vape ban specifically banned disposable e-cigarettes manufactured in the country.

In a statement emailed to multiple media outlets, Shein said it would comply with Paxton’s investigation.

“Shein takes these concerns seriously and is fully committed to cooperating,” a spokesperson said. “Our mission — to provide affordable, fashionable products to customers around the world — is underpinned by a dedication to safety, compliance, and respect for human rights.”

The controversy will likely have little effect on Shein’s popularity with Zoomers. The company snagged an estimated $38 billion in sales in 2024 and has an average of 24.7 million active app users each month.

fast fashion texas news investigations politics apparel shopping retail fashion shein