When passing through Chicago’s historic Avondale neighborhood, you may have seen a vibrant hanging sign and a display of gorgeous greenery. This hidden-gem storefront is the Eastern Accents Outlet.
Eastern Accents: a luxury pedigree
Eastern Accents, a family-owned luxury textile brand, has been crafting soft home furnishings for over 30 years in the heart of Chicago. Their line includes top-of-bed products such as duvet covers and bed shams as well as sheeting and decorative pieces like throw pillows. Offerings have also expanded to include American-made curtain panels and upholstered furniture.
Because products are crafted on-site in Chicago, Eastern Accents have been able to develop a skilled team of artisans who specialize in handcrafted details. Items from decorative pillows to upholstered headboards are handpainted, laseretched, or blockprinted in their Avondale studio. An extensive Custom department also enables customers to create bespoke pieces with the help of Eastern Accents’ expertise.
A longtime wholesale brand with a large presence in the luxury home goods industry, Eastern Accents has an established pedigree among high-end furniture stores, interior designers, and hospitality clients. Their flagship showroom at the entrance of Suites at Market Square is a must-visit location for visitors of the industry’s bustling High Point Market. Their instinct for upcoming trends, impeccable eye for detail, and dedication to American craftsmanship have cemented their reputation within the furniture world.
The birth of the outlet
Recently, Eastern Accents has also begun offering their products directly to consumers. Shoppers are welcome to buy online from their website or call in for assistance from a member of their on-site customer service team. But, besides a tucked-away factory showroom, there has in the past been few opportunities for members of the public to encounter these products in person.
After each High Point Market, Eastern Accents used to throw a large biannual sale, primarily selling showroom samples as well as select discontinued products. These sales were raucous and highly anticipated, with customers waiting in long lines to get into the small warehouse spaces… often only to find that most pieces had already been nabbed. The events were popular in the local community and an in-the-know destination among Chicagoland-area designers.
After years of increasing demand and interest, Eastern Accents finally announced the opening of its permanent outlet store. This store would still hold annual sales, but also offer showroom samples, photostudio samples and props, discontinued items, prototype items, and more year-round.
Located right across from the factory where their renowned manufacturing takes place, Eastern Accents’ outlet store has been open for the past 6 years, providing designers and local shoppers up to 80% off Eastern Accents’ designer pieces. Always dedicated to the local community, they also offer special workshops and events open to the public. We got to explore this design paradise and take a peek at all it offers.
What products does Eastern Accents Outlet sell and where do they come from?
Stepping into this unique store, you’ll see hundreds of products, ranging from pillows and draperies to lamps and furniture. And excitingly, the stock at the outlet is always changing. Sourced from the Eastern Accents’ on-site factory, the inventory mainly comes from overstock, discontinued collections, product testers, and returns.
Some goods, like lamps and wall art, are sourced from Eastern Accents’ sister company, Port 68 Lighting & Decor. They specialize in hand-painted porcelain lamps, oriental porcelain and designer accessories.
Typical Inventory at the Outlet includes pillows, bedding, furniture, towels, lamps, and so much more. But that’s not all– the store is filled with surprises. You can find items handmade by the designers, such as jewelry, woven tapestries, and cosmetics bags.
What are EAO Workshops?
Eastern Accents’ creative director, Louise Traficanti, hosts these hands-on projects, making crafting accessible in an engaging group environment. All materials are supplied––plus, participants can enjoy an additional 20% off any outlet purchase.
These workshops are ideal Chicago gathering places for anyone interested in design. Some of their previous projects have included DIY fabric headbands, crafting colorful lampshades, tapestry weaving, or scarf crocheting.
For the Eastern Accents Outlet, it’s important to open the world of design, making it ready and accessible to local design lovers. They offer fun deals like First Friday Sales: when you bring a new friend on the first Friday of the month, you can each get 15% off your items.
Twice a year, the outlet also hosts its popular warehouse sale. Opening its doors to the city, hundreds of these exciting designer products are available at half the cost.
Whether you’re a designer in need of one more quick piece, or a homeowner looking for the perfect accent pillow, this hidden gem is the hub for all things design—right in the Windy City, and showcasing the impact of local craftsmanship.
Eastern Accents Outlet
4227 W. Belmont Avenue, Chicago IL 60647
T: 773-604-7308
O: www.easternaccents.com/outlet
Store hours:
Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm
Sunday: Closed
Eastern Accents is a luxury home textiles brand, proudly based in Chicago. Learn more at www.easternaccents.com.
