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To say Oakland is San Francisco's Brooklyn circa 2010 would be a cliché, but it also would be somewhat true. Increasingly hip, current, and creative, Oakland's fashion and shopping scene rivals San Francisco's with its diversity, variety, and strong sense of local pride.
On Oakland's spread-out shopping map, stores range from ultra-niche boutiques to vintage and even couture. Local jewelry designers have a particularly strong showing with shops like Crown Nine and Esqueleto. Vintage shopping here is some of the best in the country, with big-hitters like Mercy Vintage boasting as strong a fan base via Instagram as it does locally.
The city's laid-back, urban vibe and rugged authenticity shine through with each shop's offerings, from vintage records to selvedge denim, upscale woolen throws, handmade incense, and other northern Californian staples of style and utility. Prepare to neighborhood-hop, encounter photogenic treasures from murals to artful store displays on every turn, and shop with abandon.
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