Lana Barakat’s shop December Thieves marks its 10-year anniversary.
There’s a nuance between changing and evolving. To evolve is to grow without becoming completely different. For the past 10 years, Lana Barakat has gracefully grown December Thieves ([decemberthieves.com](http://decemberthieves.com)) while remaining essentially the same.
Born in Lebanon, she studied advertising and marketing in the States. But after working in that industry, her creativity called and she looked to her passion for jewelry design. She created a brand and had a retail space on Newbury Street called Lazuli where she sold her jewelry.
Soon after, Barakat decided to create a space to showcase other talents and give exposure to their small business. She had a small storefront in SoWa before she expanded to Beacon Hill. Her original shop on Charles Street was a 250 square-foot walk-up with an incredible picture window, perfect for creating eye-catching displays. She opened a second location down the street and shifted her model; the original walk-up sold home decor while the newer, bigger location housed apparel and accessories. Soon, the space next to 51 became available and Barakat was able to bring her vision together. Today December Thieves continues to occupy the two neighboring storefronts, with one carrying lifestyle and the other fashion.
A selection of handbags on of the store’s imaginat
Barakat has always had a singular idea for December Thieves. “I actively seek out talented people and brands that have fair trade practices, that make things ethically with full creativity and are not mass producing. There is a story behind everything that I sell and that’s what drives me as a curator,” Barakat says. She travels all over the world to source bold statement jewelry and avant-garde fashion, bringing something to Boston that isn’t found anywhere else in the city. Each piece is fresh, never trendy, timeless and also edgy. Everything is meant to last, not just in terms of quality, but in terms of style. Over the years Barakat’s curation has become more elevated, more sophisticated, but the space she creates for her shoppers remains approachable, accessible and welcoming.
“We present the collections in a very unassuming, friendly way. We don’t gender things and we have a range of sizing opportunities. People come in and say that our store is one of the only places where they feel safe to shop. That’s magical, you know?” says Barakat.
A vignette from the lifestyle collection
Some might assume her approach to fashion is too edgy for Boston, but her dedicated clients say otherwise. The city has embraced Barakat and her thieves. Her customers celebrate the idea that what we wear and surround ourselves with are vehicles for self-expression. Barakat has seen somebody in their twenties and somebody in their sixties try on the same piece but style it differently and walk out the door in two very different looks. The December Thieves identity is anyone who is open to trying new things, seeing things in a different way and embracing a sense of discovery.
“What’s brought me the greatest joy is seeing my customer’s style evolve over the years. At some point in their lives, they felt like they needed to dress to fit a certain mold. Then they come full circle and say, ‘This is how I feel myself. Thank you for helping me through this journey.’ It really is so powerful,” she says.
An example of Barakat’s unique styling
Barakat has no plans to move, but she isn’t standing still. She’s hoping to design jewelry again, so keep an eye out for her capsule collection late next year. For the store’s 10-year anniversary she’ll be featuring one-of-a-kind items with four cherished, small-batch brands.
What does she see as the secret to success for another 10 years? “I think it’s authenticity. I think it’s really sticking to our aesthetic, our story. We’re very solid in who we are and that appeals to people. But at the same time, we’re still evolving.”
Photography by: SOMERBY JONES
