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• April 4, 2007
• Just Opened

Just Opened: 5 in 1

Work, play, and commerce converge in a new all-in-one destination.

By Loryn Hatch

Williamsburg's newest addition to the North 6th shopping row, studio 5 in 1, merges process and product in a space that acts as a collective home for consumers, established and burgeoning designers, and anyone who might find a space in between.

A 19th-century warehouse originally used to fix railroad cars, the deep-set space underwent a slew of renovations beginning last September, when graphic designer and founder, Norman Rabinovich, set out to redefine the warehouse and his day-to-day life. "I got lonely working alone and sought to create a community where people can work together or individually, sharing opinions, projects, and perspectives," he says. His designs led him to an office/studio/shop for those who lack the social and professional advantages of a workplace, as well as a storefront to offer their goods.

Today, a varied group that includes clothing label Eventide, jewelry line Made Her Think, Greentech Media, communication design Avec, and of course, Rabinovich, comprise the 5 in 1 office. On March 30, the group took its biggest leap forward when the 5 in 1 storefront opened to the public as a lifestyle destination where individual designers offer everything from evening dresses to soap.

Separated from the group's studio by a transparent divider, the floor-to-ceiling wood-paneled shop has a roughed-up, antique aesthetic created by recycled planks and a previously abandoned, stripped-down piano. Display cases made from the same rustic wood bear the candied designs of Made Her Think, while additional racks and shelves hold Eventide's sublime dresses, Andrea Brueckner handbags, Bliss Lau belts, and Pvblic graphic T-shirts. A blown-up Kurt Mangum photo hangs from the ceiling, suggesting the neighborhood's ongoing deterioration, renewal, and the locals' zealous exploration.

Because the studio is open to new designers with ideas and projects that fit in with the environment, it's certain that 5 in 1 will continue to grow in novel ways. As Norman affirms, "the studio is an organic entity with a face that can change at any given time."

5 in 1, 60 North 6th Street (between Kent and Wythe avenues), Brooklyn, 718-384-1990.

Work, play, and commerce converge in a new all-in-one destination.