Artist made Shop Brings Style, Gifts and Korean Fashion to Hell’s Kitchen

Erie Chang is bringing her own unique style to Hell’s Kitchen with her new W50th Street store, Artist made Shop.

The former textile designer-turned fashion entrepreneur opened the store in May, though she’d been thinking about running her own shop since the 2020 pandemic. Chang said that after a lifetime in fashion business and design, she wanted to curate art and lifestyle pieces rather than creating and selling them.

“Instead of making, I thought I’d like to do curating, with unique items, clothing and cool accessories,” Chang said. “So I made this store called Artist made Shop — the artist is me, my taste, my curating.”

Artist made Shop, located at 447 W50th Street, is a hodgepodge of classic clothing, accessories, jewelry and other goods. Chang’s touches are everywhere — in the unique items she picks to sell from her 40-plus Korean vendors, to the store’s branding.

Chang designed the store’s logo and sign — plus all of the Artist made Shop’s packaging. She said she occasionally dabbles in graphic design, and also loves watercolor painting, charcoal drawing and even sculpting.

Despite opening just two months ago, Chang said her store is already popular with West Siders, tourists or those looking for a gift they won’t find anywhere else.

“We don’t carry a big inventory. We’re selective,” Chang said. “Every item is one of a kind.”

Those one-of-a-kind pieces include Chang’s collection of different colored soaps — with scents such as lavender dream, ocean breeze and summer stripes — that give the front of her store a calming aroma. Chang has some soaps themed for each month of the year (July smelled particularly good).

She has so-far partnered with mostly Korean suppliers. But Chang, who moved to the United States from Seoul in the 1990s, plans to expand her inventory to include a few pieces from Italy and France as well.

“Korea is very trendy fashion-wise,” Chang said. “Anything that is unique and quality at a good price point, I will bring.”

Speaking of trendy, Chang decided to open her store in Hell’s Kitchen because she expects the neighborhood to grow in popularity — particularly among artists.

“I believe Hell’s Kitchen is going to be another Soho, another Williamsburg, another Hoboken,” Chang said. “I really believe it.”

She looked at 500 possible storefronts, including in the East Village, but felt the Hell’s Kitchen community was the best fit for Artist made Shop.

The neighborhood “reminds me a little bit of myself,” Chang said. “I was interested in a fresh start. That feeling is perfect for Hell’s Kitchen.”

Before opening her store, Chang worked in fashion, first as a textile designer and then running her own line of children’s swimwear. She’s lived in New York City for more than three decades — including stints in the Garment District — but now resides in New Jersey.

Artist made Shop is located at 447 W50th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues. It’s open from 11am to 7pm every day, except Monday.

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