Two ultra-hip retailers join Minnie's flock

In shoppers’ news: Both West Elm and American Apparel are set to open local posts, in Edina and Minneapolis, respectively. If you’re not familiar, here are some quick bios on these bizes: West Elm is a Williams-Sonoma-owned (related to Pottery Barn, therefore) retailer of furniture and housewares of the clean, modernist, neo-Ikea sort. Think platform beds, bamboo sushi platters, graphic rugs, and the like. American Apparel is another story entirely, and the TC fashion media could have endless fun with this retailer of basic cotton/Lycra-blended socks, rompers, leotards, boy-briefs, and tees. On one hand, the LA-based company is lauded for selling sweat shop-free frocks, offering employees fair compensation packages, and using recycled cotton in much of its clothing. It’s therefore a favorite brand (even though it calls itself “brand-free”) among the urban hipster set–the fact that AA sells ’70s- and ’80s-inspired duds, such as thigh-high tube socks, doesn’t hurt matters either. On the other hand, however, the CEO is a total perv. Gross!