Meet the Duo (and Dog) Behind Aggregate Supply

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• Andrew Soernsen, Oscar the Airedale, and Mark Morris at Aggregate Supply. Photos by Patricia Chang.

Andrew Soernsen and Mark Morris know how to drive foot traffic into a shop on a street full of cool shops: Let an adorable dog sleep in the window. Yes, their store, Aggregate Supply, has been on our radar for years, but it was a chance encounter with Oscar the Airedale Terrier that prompted our photo shoot.

Soernsen and Morris —the designers behind Turk+Taylor— opened Aggregate Supply with fellow local brands Heliotrope and Acacia in 2012. The name was a clue to what shoppers might find inside: an aggregation of eclectic offerings. But the trio outgrew the space, and Turk+Taylor eventually took the reins, streamlining the look of the store and the inventory in the process. These days, racks stocked with Turk+Taylor, Levis' Made & Crafted, The Portland Collection by Pendleton, Hentsch Man, Drifter and Manastash blend seamlessly with stacks of blankets from Pendleton and Faribault, and tables piled high with enameled bowls from Copenhagen and vintage Heath Ceramics pieces.

According to Mark, "The store is not just an extension of Turk+Taylor, but of ourselves. There's a lot of thought and passion that goes into the shop and each brand and item we carry." Not that that's surprising: The pair have imbued their work with that sense of self for since they started Turk+Taylor in 2005.

After noticing that there weren't many design-driven brands, Morris and Soernsen decided to launch a graphic t-shirt line. Their first business meeting was at Original Joe's at Turk and Taylor streets. The name stuck. Within a year, Mark and Andrew expanded to their first full collection for both men and women, utilizing organic and sustainable fabrics. Every piece was sewn here in SF. Since then, Turk+Taylor has gone on to collaborate with SFMOMA, The Lab, and Southern Exposure here in San Francisco.

Almost 10 years later, Morris and Soernsen find that having their own store complements their design business. Andrew tells us that manning the shop "is a great way to meet the people who admire your design to receive honest and direct feedback about everything from aesthetic to fit." The hardest part? Finding time to wear hats at both shopkeepers and designers.

At the end of the day, Mark and Andrew successfully juggle their responsibilities. The shop is thriving, and Turk+Taylor is still producing best-sellers and designing new pieces all the time. If you want to snag one of those beloved looks for yourself, stop by Aggregate Supply. Just don't be surprised when Oscar charms you into staying far longer than you intended.
· Aggregate Supply [Official Site]
· Turk and Taylor [Official Site]
· 3 SF Retailers Create Aggregate Supply on Valencia, Plus a Party! [Racked]
· All Better Know a Store Owner Posts [Racked]