Alter My Life
Store Profile: Tommy Cole and Roy Caires’ Alter
By Moni Briones
Photography by Winnie Au

  
If you haven’t already heard about Alter of Greenpoint Brooklyn from Refinery 29 or Yelp.com or the cool cats hanging at The Pencil Factory, then you heard it from us at Working Class: Alter surpasses class and offers relief to Brooklyn bound shoppers in multiple ways. How so?

A. The mini chain encompasses men’s and women’s stores conveniently located across the street from each other, making it super easy to shop with your beau or pacify your lady: Try the suspenders for her and the kick ass blazers for him.
B. Both stores carry clothing lines that not only compliment the next but functionally meet the needs of fashion conscious intellects that care about the longevity and quality of their clothes.
C. Alter is owned by the sweetest duo [Tommy + Roy] that offer exceptional customer service and an aesthetically pleasing environment a brief walk away from the G train proving that NoHo shops are not the only place to score brilliant fabric pleasures.
D. Alter supports the hell out of indie designers as well as local artists via their blog: http://alterbrooklyn.blogspot.com/.

“Acting as the buyers, owners, merchandisers, and creative of each store is both of our jobs…It definitely proves time consuming but we LOVE being hands-on at all times” noted Roy. “We are not scared of taking risks with our company but always do so via thoughtful mediums.”

“Why sell or promote something that doesn’t makes sense to us or our customer?” added Tommy.

For now, Alter’s blog is showcasing their latest including Black, Nila Anthony Handbags, and FAME jewelry by Justin Tranter. Their signature Hanger necklace is available via the blog too as well as their Etsy shop. But get ready because Alter plans to launch their online store in early 2009. I’ll be shopping via my MAC with a Jack and Coke in hand. Won’t you?

ALTER 109 (MEN)
109 Franklin St.
near Greenpoint Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11222
tel: 718.784.8818

ALTER 140 (WOMEN)
140 Franklin St.
near Greenpoint Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11222
tel: 718.349.0203

Visit their website at http://alterbrooklyn.blogspot.com/.