At Sui Generis, 20 years of fierce looks and immigrant vision

Twenty years ago, shopping at a San Francisco secondhand store could feel like an archaeological dig, with shoppers sifting through racks, hoping to uncover a treasure. But in 2006, Sui Generis Designer Consignment opened at Church and Market streets, bringing a boutique atmosphere and full-service styling to resale. Latin for “of its own kind,” Sui Generis suited owners Miguel Lopez and Gabriel Yanez’s vision for a resale shop with a designer boutique’s attention to detail. Carefully merchandised clothing, fully styled mannequins, and fabulous conceptual window displays complemented the attentive service shoppers expect at iconic shops like Wilkes Bashford, MAC, and McMullen. “By offering a meticulously curated selection under one roof, we saved our clients from the hunt, changing consignment from a bargain search into a full-service fashion experience,” says Lopez. Photo by Miguel Jimenez Flores Two decades on, perpetual Best of the Bay-winning Sui Generis is celebrati