Sisters Hopie and Lily Stockman are the creative forces behind Block Shop, a textile company that combines groovy California vibes with the traditional Indian hand blocking process. The company came to fruition in 2010 when Lily was studying painting in Jaipur and crossed paths with Viju, a fifth generation master printer. Lily sent a series of designs home to Hopie and it wasn’t long before Hopie was on a plane to India and a beautiful partnership with Viju’s family was born.
Block Shop's Desert Gold mural at Ace Hotel & Swim Club inspired by an Eve Babitz story about Palm Springs
Fast forward seven years and Block Shop has studio space in both the historic core of DTLA and in Joshua Tree. When the Stockman sisters aren't cranking out work in the space, find them exploring Grand Central Market or collaborating in the Arts District's supportive community. Among many others, Block Shop has worked with MAST Chocolate to create custom packaging and Poketo on a custom line of scarves.
Block Shop's designs are rooted in the places they love—so naturally there are parallels between traditional Indian design and 20th century California design. According to the sisters, “Our geometry is always inspired from Mughal architecture in Rajasthan and Art Deco architecture in Los Angeles, while our palette is drawn from the Thar Desert and California’s Mojave Desert.”
Block Shop Joshua Tree
Lily and Hopie dream of expressing their creative gratitude to Viju and Sonia by one day sharing their LA world. When that day comes, here is a list of adventures the duo would lead:
- Breakfast at G & B Coffee and Eggslut
- Tour of Arts District and Block Shop studio downtown
- Lunch at the Ace Hotel rooftop overlooking LA
- Head west for a walk through Venice Canals and cruise Abbot Kinney and Main Street
- Afternoon tea at Hopie’s Venice beach cottage
- Catch a classic film at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica
- Sunset at the Griffith Observatory
- Dinner at Ostrich Farm, where Block Shop scarves adorn the walls
If you wish to feel the soft Block Shop fabric between your fingertips or pick the creative minds behind Block Shop, head on downtown for their pop-up at Ace Hotel during the second weekend of Coachella. Block Shop will transform the ticket booth with textiles and sell their wares before relocating upstairs by the pool on Sunday, April 23.
We were curious about Block Shop's creative community, so we asked Hopie and Lily to shout out some of their favorite women owned businesses in LA.
Block Shop Textiles Studio
DTLA
Hopie Stockman & Lily Stockman: A friend called our studio a Waldorf school for grownups. There are dogs underfoot, art and design projects in process, a steady stream of visitors/family members dropping in, music, flowers being arranged, and day-to-day order fulfillment happening all at once. We love our job.
Hopie (L) & Lily (R) Stockman. Image by Laura Dart
Studio Shamshiri
Hollywood
HS & LS: Founded by Pamela Shamshiri, a design genius and a huge inspiration to us. We’re in awe of her self-restored Schindler house. Additionally, she co-founded Commune, a collective focused on enhancing life via design.
Kismet
Los Feliz
HS & LS: Founded by Sara Kramer & Sarah Hymanson. Favorite meal period from our favorite dynamic chef duo. Get the jeweled crispy rice. Block Shop printed the napkins!
Lucky Dragons
DTLA
HS & LS: Sarah Rara is the picture of an LA artist, she works across mediums from conceptual sound to poetry.
Lucky Dragons Co-founders Sarah Rara and Luke Fischbeck by Cali Thornhill Dewitt
Image courtesy of Lucky Dragons
HS & LS: Founded by our dear friend, Wendy Polish. Le Feu de L’Eau is our favorite candle company because each candle is an art piece. We live for the African Basil scent.
Stockists: Lost & Found, Olive & June and Moondance
Wendy Polish (L) and Lily Stockman (R) by Hopie Stockman
DTLA Cheese
Downtown
HS & LS: Lydia Clarke is one of the best cheesemongers in LA, whose salads and toasts at the Grand Central Market are weekly staples at Block Shop. Sister biz!
Frogtown
HS & LS: Tanya strikes the balance between running an art practice and a design studio with incredible thoughtfulness.
Tanya Aguiñiga
Echo Park Craft Fair
Silver Lake
HS & LS: Run by two women, Rachel Craven and Beatrice Valenzeula, each with their own flourishing brands, EPCF started in their backyards and has become the zeitgeist for independent brands. Each fair takes place seasonally.
Founders Beatrice (L) and Rachel (R). Image by @heykatrinahi
HS & LS: Founded by Iris Alonzo & Carolina Crespo, the creative forces behind American Apparel are now channeling their design brilliance and creative community focus into EVERYBODY. Their jumpsuit is bananas and their Hungry Snake pillow is THE perfect impractical thing.
Founders Iris (L) & Carolina (R)
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LA-born, Georgia-bred and one-half of a set of identical twins, Casha Doemland spends her days writing and exploring. She’s a classic film enthusiast, runner, dog walker and collector of quotes and tattoos.
Header image courtesy of Laura Dart