Fashion Forward

H&M sets opening date for fashionable new Austin outpost

H&M heads to Hill Country Galleria.

Fast-fashion favorite H&M has a new Austin-area location in the works. The brand will open at the Hill Country Galleria in Bee Cave on Thursday, August 25, at noon.

This marks the 26th outpost of the affordable, fashion-forward brand in Texas, but it's only the second in Austin. H&M opened at The Domain in 2012.

The 20,000-square-foot store promises to be a one-stop shopping destination for the entire family. It will feature collections for ladies, men, young ladies, and young men, as well as "store-within-a-store" accessories areas. The Bee Cave store will carry H&M's children's collections, too, outfitting newborns to 14-year-olds.

The retailer is famous for its designer collaborations, with big names such as Alexander Wang. Sustainability is an integral part of H&M as well. In 2013, H&M launched Garment Collecting, an in-store clothing recycling project. In 2015, the brand received the U.S. EPA Green Power Leadership Award.

"We are thrilled to be opening our 26th location in Texas," says U.S. president Daniel Kulle in a release. "The state has been very welcoming to us and we are excited to create more employment opportunities with our expansion there."

Recently, H&M opened a massive 30,000-square-foot location in downtown Fort Worth; another Fort Worth location is slated to open this fall.

H&M at Hill Country Galleria is located at 12912 Hill Country Blvd. To celebrate the opening, H&M will give the first 100 shoppers in line an "Access to Fashion Pass," valued between $10-$300.

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Brunchy Business

Mimosa Walk returns to Austin's South 1st Street for sips and shopping

Blue Suede/Instagram

Businesses along South 1st Street are welcoming shoppers with mimosas on Saturday, November 16.

Perhaps no other drink has the mimosa's power to draw people out on the weekend, and one Austin neighborhood is harnessing it for a leisurely tour of local businesses. The Austin Mimosa Walk: South 1st Fall Festival is scheduled for November 16, and will stop at local businesses, each with complimentary drinks.

The tour will include some shopping, some casual snack spots, and even some wellness stops. Although not every business mimosa walkers will pass is participating, the tour will pass lots of local eateries, making it easy to tack on a lunch when the Champagne starts making itself known.

The following eight businesses are participating as stops on the self-guided tour:

Austin Salt Room — a spa-like environment for salt therapy, essentially hanging out near tons of salt while breathing in microscopic salt particles, which are said to improve respiratory health
Blue Suede Austin — a cool women's shoe boutique (with a wine bar!) that specializes in semi-casual styles at mid-range prices, featuring brands like Sam Edelman, Jeffrey Campbell, and Cecelia
Devil’s Details Boutique — formerly Bloomers and Frocks, this vintage shop has rebranded and shifted its focus to jewelry, often in bold and unique styles
Glint Dental — a dental office specializing in aesthetic procedures like veneers and whitening, but also offering general and preventative care
Golden Mean — early holiday shoppers should keep friends and family in mind at this gift shop, which carries unique goods ranging from soaps and blankets to kitchen goods and avant-garde decor.
Once Over Coffee— an unassuming-on-the-outside, artsy-on-the-inside coffee shop serving Wild Gift Coffee and less common coffee shop finds like kombucha and Italian soda
Package Austin — a queer menswear store for harnesses, underwear, accessories, toys, and community events
Sugar Mamas Bakeshop — a colorful bakery specializing in fantastically decorated cakes, often with a sarcastic or funny twist

The listing on Eventbrite promises a hydration station by Topo Chico, a collector's glass, and that the event will sell out. It requires that tickets ($32) be purchased in advance online. [Update: An event organizer says the ninth business on the Eventbrite list is still under construction, and will not be participating.]

The walk will take place from noon to 3:30 pm. Guests will receive a "passport" to help navigate between tour stops. A check-in tent will get guests started at 1628 S. 1st St.

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