If you’ve sat inside cafe babu, the singular Mediterranean-inspired coffee shop on Third Avenue South, admiring its aesthetic vibes and thought, “I wish I could live here. I wish my life looked like it was set in this movie,” you’re in luck. No, you can’t actually move in. But Shivani and Alexandros Darsinos, the couple behind the cafe, opened Leo Vas this summer, where you can buy clothing designed by Alex that fits the babu aesthetic. Alex is an architect (yes, he designed the cafe and the shop), and he had always wanted to launch his own fashion house.
It was during one of the couple’s first dates, Shivani says, that they opened up to each other. “I told him, ‘I'm passionate about coffee; I want to open up a coffee shop.’ And he said, ‘I really want to have my own clothing line one day.’ But it definitely seemed like a far-fetched journey.”
As the couple worked together, opening cafe babu, and seeing it grow into a neighborhood gathering place as much as a coffee shop, other dreams seemed less far-fetched. In July, they opened Leo Vas, kitty-corner from cafe babu in Chestnut Hill. The storefront has that signature Darsinos look, with natural stone, hand-finished plaster, sculptural stone, and wood furnishings. Inside are clothes made from fabrics the couple had created specifically for their line.
Both Shivani and Alex are first-generation Americans; her family is from India, through Bowling Green, Kentucky. His roots are from Greece. They combined both traditions in sourcing materials, with metallic threading and cottons, and colors that are rich and deep but not flashy, designed for day-to-night silhouettes. Many of these pieces in the store are limited edition, including one-of-a-kind purses and jewelry from other designers.
The pieces are surprisingly affordable given the fabric quality and small quantities made. Shivani says that was intentional, to give folks an alternative to mass-produced clothes. Leo Vas offers both men’s and women’s collections.
If you see some construction when you shop at Leo Vas, don’t be surprised. The couple is already at work on their next project, Bar Ena, which will be adjacent to the store and is scheduled to open later this year.
