Boise fashion has Funktion

Tucked amidst the hustle of national retail chains and mainstream corporate cuisine at the new BoDo development downtown, resides the only store in Boise that is visually in line with upscale clothing boutiques found in bigger cities.

With its uber-industrial urban flair and striking attention to angular detail, Funktion is a breath of fresh air for those consumers looking to add flair to their wardrobe or just find a funky accent piece to boost their basics.

Owner and fashionista Leah Butler, who appears to be the love child of Madonna and Gwen Stefani, opened Funktion in December 2002. A graduate of Boise State, Butler left a lucrative marketing career in Ketchum after 11 years to follow her true passion: fashion. She decided to bring something different to Boise, and fill a niche market she considered to be untapped.

Knowing that Boise, in general, is slowly catching up to bigger city fashion, Butler is creating a regional retail awakening. She stocks A-list brands such as 7 For All Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, GSUS Industries, and other hard to find upscale labels. She finds pieces that are unique to Boise, yet are often carried by finer department and specialty stores in larger metropolitan areas.

Butler said she realizes that “the college-age market for fashion-forward apparel is growing, and younger people want nicer denim for going out.” She also said, “People want to differentiate themselves. They want to go out without seeing 10 other people in the same shirt as them at

the bar.”

For this reason, Butler has made it one of her business philosophies to keep orders limited to only six of one piece, making any purchase an investment in individuality and fashion.

Mitchell Thompson, owner of the swanky downtown restaurant, Pair, is drawn to Funktion because of its stark neo-industrial urban nuance and sartorial sensibilities. A self-proclaimed “urban-sexual minimalist” (think stylish manly man), Thompson believes it’s important to be fashion-forward without looking like you’re trying too hard.

An avid traveler, Thompson was once only able to update his wardrobe in metropolitan areas. Shops like Funktion are rampant throughout areas like San Francisco and Seattle, and Thompson appreciates the fact that he can find the same quality and experience without having to leave downtown Boise. With four years of success in Boise, Butler believes that her business will only get better. Clients like Thompson and many other Boise hipsters already realize the value of having an asset like Funktion so close to home. Finally, Boise fashion meets Funktion.

Marcus Ogawa
Special to The Arbiter

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