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New celeb-approved ear piercing boutique needles into West Village for Dallas debut

Bopping to the mall with your girlfriends for a hand-holding, group-ear piercing session followed by warm Cinnabon comfort is so last century. Chic new piercing studios like Studs - debuting in Dallas' West Village on April 26 - take a more modern approach to the body-altering procedure.

"Studs has reimagined the antiquated ear piercing experience for new generations," says a release. "Their trained piercing experts use needles (never piercing guns!), allowing for better precision, safety, and healing."

The brand also touts itself as the authority on "earscaping" (which they capitalize and trademark-symbol in the release), the process of "stacking" several piercings up and down the ear.

"Their knowledgeable and skilled piercing experts offer personalized consultations, advising on the best piercing placement and earrings for your unique ear anatomy and style," they say.

Launched by co-founders Anna Harman and Lisa Bubbers in late 2019 (even before COVID brought health and safety concerns to the forefront of the beauty industry), Studs now has 18 studios nationwide and four in Texas. West Village is its first venture into Dallas-Fort Worth, after two locations in Austin and one in Houston. They clearly know where the piercing action is.

Photo courtesy of Studs

Studs co-founders Anna Harman and Lisa Bubbers have opened their 18th location in Dallas' West Village.

"When choosing a new location, Studs looks for cities with large Gen Z and millennial populations and shopping areas with strong foot traffic from locals and tourists and proximity to trendy and popular restaurants, hotels, coffee shops and boutiques," the founders say in the release. "Opening a new studio in the West Village shopping center was a no-brainer."

Their goal, the founders say, is to connect ear piercing with aftercare and earring shopping in a cool, fun, safe, and welcoming environment - without exorbitant prices. Piercing costs are as follows:

1 Piercing is $35 + the cost of jewelry
2 Piercings are $50 + the cost of two pieces jewelry

Besides offering piercings in a more clinical setting, Studs offers an assortment of affordable, on-trend earrings for purchase. They're sold as singles or pairs, made of high-quality materials, and prices range from $10-$160, they say.

Best-sellers include playful novelty earrings like a cowboy boot huggie ($28), cowboy hat huggie ($28), and Y’ALL stud ($22).

Piercing checkups, piercing jewelry changes, and flatback downsizing are also offered.

In just a few short years, Studs says, it has quickly become a favorite piercing destination for Gen Z and millennial crowds and celebrities, including Kaia Gerber, Emma Chamberlain, Dixie D’Amelio, and Rosalia.

Studs follows the opening of another dedicated ear piercing studio-jewelry boutique, Wildlike, which debuted at Dallas’ Shops of Highland Park in summer of 2021.

The new Studs, West Village, is located at 3699 McKinney Ave # 102, Dallas. Hours are 11am-7pm Monday-Sunday.

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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.

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