About Us
THE SHOP
Strange Ways is a curated shop selling unique and memorable items for your wardrobe and home, often stamped with our irreverent and fun vibe. Launched online in 2014, we opened a storefront in 2015 to better build our brand and customer experience. Our ethos is to focus on smaller statement pieces like pins and patches that make it easy to add a bit of flair to everyday life. Working with 100+ independent artists and designers allows for a constantly rotating selection of new and fresh product to help you express your individual style.
The shop was founded in 2014 by Alex Dakoulas, a lifestyle designer whose past work includes creating products for Converse and Puma. Strange Ways has been fortunate enough to be featured in such publications as Refinery29, GQ, Harper's Bazaar, Seventeen Magazine, Design*Sponge, BUST Magazine, and StyleCaster.In our world, strange is just another word for unique.
THE PRODUCT
We are proud to source directly from small brands and to support independent designers and artists, and take joy in introducing customers to new people and product they haven't seen before. At Strange Ways we work to discover unique, underground items from up-and-coming creatives where most pieces are created in limited production runs with care. We're on a constant search for relevant, standout pieces made with well-done artistry and attention to detail. We believe what makes one stand out—and yes, that is a good thing—is in the little things.
Strange Ways also works with talented folks to create one-of-a-kind collaborations and exclusive items. Through our forward-thinking and unusual lens we offer exclusive product from relevant trendsetters, creatives, and icons. We don’t just curate and carry interesting products—in creating it ourselves, we're a place you can look to for inspiration. By gathering talented artists—and also collaborating with them—we are your 1 stop shop and gathering place for indie art culture.
If you're seeking a look beyond the mall and mass culture, our goal is that you can find it (or we can help you create it) at Strange Ways. We focus on carrying smaller-sized, moderately-priced items that make it easy to customize your wardrobe and home to your unique taste. For all the wonderfully weird people out there with an eye for style, we hope you find a little bit of yourself in our products. We want to help you express your individuality by carrying things you won't find anywhere else.
Supporting independent creatives—NO RIP-OFFS!
There is a rash of independent artists having their artwork ripped off by major corporations and fast-fashion outlets—we are NOT one of them. We are a small, independent shop that works directly with artists and small brands to carry their work, many of whom are considered friends. Your purchases support us, which in turn support the people we carry.
THE MANIFESTO
Strange Ways is not just about the visual, but also about operating consciously. We specialize in product from creative entrepreneurs with small businesses. Being queer-owned we also like to feature LGBTQ+ artists, there is a section devoted to American-made items, and we've made more of a concerned effort to support BIPOC makers. Throughout the year we also make donations to various nonprofits. We want to function professionally with a personal touch, to use our brains so you don't have to. Shopping should be easy, and buying from Strange Ways should make you feel good!
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SELECT PRESS
“You probably want to add Strange Ways
to your bookmarks now.”—Refinery29
- Essential Weekend Getaway Guide to New Haven — Wayward
- Stuff We Buy Ourselves — New York Magazine
- Strange Ways Makes Space for Live Music — New Haven Independent
- Local Holiday Gift Guide 2022 - Connecticut Magazine
- Strange Ways Founder on Passion & Community in Business — U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- Strange Ways Grows Its Footprint Downtown — The Arts Paper
- Best Friend Gifts — Seventeen Magazine
- Interior Delights Gift Better Guide — Shopify
- Best Sites To Buy Patches On — Society19
- This Week in New Haven - Flair Fair — Daily Nutmeg
- Hipster Haven — The Improper Bostonian
- Strange Ways Pairs Up With Paramount — The Arts Paper
- The Strange Ways of Alex Dakoulas —Take Magazine
- Awesome Holiday Gifts for Under $25 —Glamour
- How Enamel Pins Are Using Instagram To Take Over The World —Uproxx
- Fashion Hacks: 9 Simple Ways to Customize Your Clothing—Apartment Therapy
- Pins and Needles: Tuesday Bassen—Bitch Media
- Flairing Up—Daily Nutmeg
- The Best Gifts Under $20 Fashion Girls—Harper's Bazaar
- 10 Adorable Accessories For Apple Picking—BUST Magazine
- Pop-up market showcases local designers—Yale Daily News
- How to Ace Kanye West's Effortless Summer Style—GQ
- DIY Celeb Style—Seventeen Magazine
- “Our favorite shops [for enamel pins]”—InsideHook
- 18 Indie Embroidered Patch Companies—Design*Sponge
- Patches, pins and other favorites at Strange Ways—New Haven Register
- Getting Strange In Westville—New Haven Independent
- Success Stories: Strange Ways—Shopify
- 10 Ridiculously Cool Iron-On Patches to Customize Your Denim Jacket—StyleCaster
- “Products that are a bit ‘left of center.’ Just like you.”—Boston Spirit Magazine
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