Best independent shops: Williamsburg

5 in 1
Multitasking at its finest: This upscale shop is a storefront and design studio in one. Stop in for a necklace or a printed T-shirt, and you can probably request a tweak from the creator in the back. (60 N 6th St between Kent and Wythe Aves, 718-384-1990, studio5in1.com)

About Glamour
There is plenty of glam packed inside this 2,400-square-foot warehouse. Inside, discover a plethora of hard-to-find clothing, accessories and artworks from around the world. (103 N 3rd St between Berry St and Wythe Ave; 718-599-3044, aboutglamour.net)

A&G Merch
Little brother to the Future Perfect, this shop has the same edgy feel but is much easier on the wallet. Some of our budget-friendly faves: lace coasters ($19), manhole doormats ($29) and an old-school wooden tape dispenser ($29). (111 N 6th St at Berry St; 718-388-1779, aandgmerch.com)

Beacon’s Closet
Trade in your old threads for cash at 35 percent of their estimated value. Or turn around and get new clothes right then and there with a store credit worth 55 percent. It’s sartorial alchemy: worn-in Levi’s transformed into a pair of Sevens. (88 N 11th St between Berry St and Wythe Ave; 718-230-1630, beaconscloset.com)

CB I Hate Perfume
Customize your scent with more than 700 options in essential oils to mix and match. Don’t know your mandravasarotra from your cardamom? Salespeople will guide you through the two-hour-ish process to find the perfect concoction. (93 Wythe Ave at N 10th St; 718-384-689, cbihateperfume.com)

Cosmo Modern
Embrace your inner flower child with industrial and midcentury-modern furniture at crazy-reasonable prices. (314 Wythe Ave at Grand St; 718-302-4662, cosmomodern.com)

Fresh Kills
Inject a little disco-era glitz into your abode with highly coveted Milo Baughman club and dining chairs, or some of the last remaining early-’70s Thayer Coggin pieces. Ikea? Never heard of it. 50 N 6th St between Kent and Wythe Aves; 718-388-8081, freshkillsflagship.com

The Future Perfect
Founder Dave Alhadeff believed that design relied too heavily on cleverness, without much lasting or intrinsic beauty. So in 2003, he opened the Future Perfect, to celebrate locally made, edgy furniture (coffee tables strung with balloons), jewelry (necklaces made out of old retainers) and textiles (graffiti-inspired needlepoint pillows) that are up to his standards. (115 N 6th St at Berry St; 718-599-6278, thefutureperfect.com)

Golden Calf
Though the name sounds like a Chinese restaurant, this glass-fronted shop is actually a shrine to Asian-inspired home goods and gifts. If you’re stumped about how to put things together, Golden Calf offers an interior-design service. (86 N 6th St at Wythe Ave, 718-302-8800)

Jumelle
Candice Waldron left her career as a TV journalist to follow her dream of self-employment and fashion. The result: a high-end woman’s store that blends elegant, modern and bohemian styles with brands like Jeffrey Monteiro, Gary Graham and Mociun. 148 Bedford Ave between N 8th and N 9th Sts; 718-388-9525, shopjumelle.com

Mini Mini Market
Add a little Kings County to your life with a T-shirt ($24)—or a two-finger ring ($20)—that reads brooklyn. Everything here is fun, funky and affordable. 218 Bedford Ave between N 5th and N 6th Sts; 718-302-9337, miniminimarket.com

Shoe Market
In a ’hood with almost no other footwear shops, this spot offers tons of comfy options, including Frye and Seychelles varieties. (Of course, there are plenty of uncomfy choices, too.) 160 N 6th St at Bedford Ave; 718-388-8495, miniminimarket.com

Moon River Chattel
For 13 years, MRC has offered a wide variety of goods, including 18th- to 20th-century furniture, antique lighting, plumbing fixtures, and classic doors and door hardware, as well as architectural salvage and a bespoke furniture service. 62 Grand St between Wythe and Kent Aves; 718-388-1121, moonriverchattel.com

Sodafine
Owner Erin Weckerle curates pieces made with eco-friendly fabrics and sustainable labor practices. She tends to feature local designers and superadorable goods. 119 Grand St at Berry St; 718-230-3060, sodafine.com

Spoonbill and Sugartown Books
Skip B&N in favor of SSB, which specializes in used, rare and new books on contemporary art, architecture and various other design fields. If you’re really lucky, one of the two resident cats will sit on your lap while you read. 218 Bedford Ave between North 4th and North 5th Sts; 718-387-7322, spoonbillbooks.com

Sprout Home
Turn your abode into a garden with plants, eco-friendly products and home accessories by local artists. 44 Grand St between Wythe and Kent Aves (718-388-4440

Two Jakes Furniture
If you work out of your apartment and need to spruce things up, visit Two Jakes for mod home-office furnishings from top designers. Or try setting up shop in the 10,000-square-foot space and see how long it takes for them to notice. 320 Wythe Ave between Grand and S 1st Sts; 718-782-7780, twojakes.com

Ugly Luggage
You never know what you’re going to find at this long-standing antiques emporium, but you can always count on a massive amount of mid-19th-century furniture, as well as more recent stuff—and expert staffers to help you navigate everything. 214 Bedford Ave at North 5th St,718-384-0724

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Shopping guide '09
Best independent shops Forget chain stores. It's the little guys we're loving right now.