Death of the Macramé Owl

As Hayes Valley continues its centuries-long transformation from unpopulated pasture to sinister highway underpass to hotbed of precious confiseries, so the Capsule Design Festival grows in strength and followers. Twice a year, some mysterious and shadowy design organization called Capsule draws together legions of clothing and accessory designers, graphic and fine artists, industrial and architectural monkeys, and assorted other bleeding-edge artisans and idea people. The sixth installment of Capsule, while sadly lacking in the dusty hanging plant baskets and secondhand Georgia O'Keeffe posters we've grown to love and fear to touch, swears from the bottom of its urbane heart to unveil a few well-designed surprises amidst the 140 booths. After all, each designer is "screened for originality and relevancy" before being invited to participate, which is something you should do regularly anyway if you're sleeping with multiple designers. Expect leather jackets, silk-screened tank tops for slender and violent fashionistas, hip stationery for tweens, ultramodern papier-mâché clowns, boldly eco-conscious handbags, images of retro Latinas, revolutionary tea cozies, and handmade dolls fashioned from scrap and recycled fabrics.
Sun., Oct. 14, 11 a.m., 2007