St. Louis native Neil Bardon began as the former drummer of Lapush and has since evolved further into a sought-after designer of haute eyewear. His Los Angeles-based shop, Saint Rita Parlor, is deeply rooted in history and personal experience, as his grandmother Rita inspires every product line. The result is a showcase of beautifully nostalgic, unique pieces that have been featured in Pepsi ads and seen on celebrities such as Bill Clinton, Ted Danson and Chuck Inglish.
At home with Neil Bardon, Founder & Creative Director of Saint Rita Parlor. We recently caught up with Neil Bardon, creator of Saint Rita Parlor to discuss the inspiration behind the brand and what the future has in store.
The "Midland" duo is jazzed about items "that are personal to us," Appel said, such as Vicky Calabaza pottery from New Mexico and Zuni fetish carvings. They excitedly point out sunglasses packaged in hand-stitched leather cases and a unisex perfume, all by downtown-based Saint Rita Parlor. "We're really into scents now," Harris said.
Inspired by history and heritage, Los Angeles based concept brand Saint Rita Parlor discloses a story of family lineage and creates an intimacy between designer and consumer that creates a unique experience for the experience for the viewer to be apart of. After making waves last year with its freshman collection and reaching global recognition in niche luxury. Saint Rita Parlor, is more than just a fashion brand. It is a feeling. An intangible moment. The concept brand itself possesses a nostalgic spirit that makes each handcrafted piece feel like a cherished heirloom. This weekend, everyone was invited to acquire a piece of this heritage with the grand opening of their flagship concept store in East Industrial DTLA when they debuted their sophomore collection, "The Florissant Collection."
Our clear 1072 optical eyewear making their second national television appearance, this time for the Pepsi "out of the blue" campaign, which debuted during The Grammys.
It was a record-breaking night for attendance and talent at Saint Louis Fashion Week’s highly anticipated runway show featuring some of the fashion industry’s most respected designers. Runway pros Yigal Azrouël, Tess Giberson and Timo Weiland took over the Midway at Union Station, presenting their impressive Spring 2015 collections to a sold-out crowd of St. Louis’ top fashion fans, professionals, business leaders (from the likes of Wells Fargo, Husch Blackwell and more) and VIPs. The best part? Men’s fashion was well represented with a stellar showing of fashion-forward pieces from both Weiland on the runway, and St. Louis native, Neil Bardon of Saint Rita Parlor, during the cocktail hour.
Founder Neil Bardon named his business after his grandmother whom he says was and still is a “saint.” Based in LA, all pieces are handcrafted and limited edition. The frames feature an antique brass Saint Rita Parlor coin embedded in the right temple. The packaging includes an embossed custom leather case lined with suede interior and paisley eyewear cloth handkerchief. Available at Manready Mercantile, 321 West 19th Street, Houston.
Ever since discovering Saint Rita Parlor sunglasses at owner Neil Bardon’s DTLA design studio, we’ve been enamored by the craftsmanship and story behind each piece. The beautiful, acetate frame will have you drooling. Every single pair is created as a part of a limited edition collection – meaning once they’re sold out, that’s it. It also comes with a custom leather embossed case with a suede interior and paisley eyewear cloth. The 602 (priced at $275) is just one of the many SRP obsessions.
ONE KINGS LANE | AN INSIDERS LOOK at L.A.’s HOTTEST HAUTE EYEWEAR
In a city where the sun shines practically all the time, it may seem hard to stand out by creating something as ubiquitous as sunglasses, but the Los Angeles-based founder of Saint Rita Parlor Neil Bardon, has done just that. First there’s his brand’s name, an homage to his grandmother and muse, Rita with whom he shared a very special bond: “She was and still is my ‘saint.’” Then there’s Bardon’s handcrafted, limited-edition approach to eyewear, with packaging all made locally and by hand. Add to that the integrity behind his approach to shape, color, and style, and you have summer’s must-have pair of sunnies. We stopped by Bardon’s live/work space for a peek inside his inspiring world.
“There perhaps has never been a greater tribute to one’s grandmother via a fashion brand named Saint Rita Parlor. From the name, to the design of the products and the story of the brand, Rita (Neil’s grandmother) is present.”
“At a small trunk show in New York’s Carson Street Clothiers, we stumbled upon something unique – Meet Saint Rita Parlor. Named after his grandmother, Rita, owner Neil Bardon produces eyewear that aim to provide an authentic and intimate product experience.”
While on our nationwide traveling trunk tour stop in NYC, we held a private trunk show at our SOHO retailer, Carson Street Clothiers. Some of New York’s finest in fashion were in attendance, including Richard Haines @designermannyc, who again showed his support and sketched founder Neil Bardon in Saint Rita Parlor’s first look from the debut menswear collection, Funeral of Ghosts.
Meet Neil Bardon craftsman, creative director and founder of Saint Rita Parlor, a line of limited edition eyewear and accessories made in Los Angeles. Growing up in Saint Louis, Missouri, Neil was drawn to the arts and creative endeavors even as a child, often holding on to inspirations from his family and music. From the design to the packaging, each SRP frame bears the essence of Rita, Neil’s maternal grandmother who is the muse behind the brand.
The Arts District in downtown Los Angeles, east of City Hall and Little Tokyo, has long been known as a haven for artists and creatives. The industrial buildings mix multi-use living and working spaces with bars, food, factories and all kinds of businesses. On the east side, three bridges span the LA River connecting downtown to Boyle Heights.
First to stock the limited eyewear collection, Hammer and Spear sets the standard of retail boutiques and ateliers worldwide of genuine taste makers and honest one-off conceptual products.
Known for his sketches capturing impeccably dressed men on and off the runway, Richard Haines @designermannyc met up with founder and lead design of Saint Rita Parlor Neil Bardon for coffee and wholesome conversation in NYC.
It was a record-breaking night for attendance and talent at Saint Louis Fashion Week’s highly anticipated runway show featuring some of the fashion industry’s most respected designers. Runway pros Yigal Azrouël, Tess Giberson and Timo Weiland took over the Midway at Union Station, presenting their impressive Spring 2015 collections to a sold-out crowd of St. Louis’ top fashion fans, professionals, business leaders (from the likes of Wells Fargo, Husch Blackwell and more) and VIPs. The best part? Men’s fashion was well represented with a stellar showing of fashion-forward pieces from both Weiland on the runway, and St. Louis native, Neil Bardon of Saint Rita Parlor, during the cocktail hour.
http://www.alivemag.com/blog/index.php/2014/10/runway-recap-yigal-azrouel-tess-giberson-timo-weiland-saint-rita-parlor-at-stlfw/