Five Questions With: The Pear House

Five Questions With: The Pear House

The Pear House isn't just new to us, it's new, period! We're thrilled to have their support in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago, and we've been long-distance ogling their gorgeous new store since it opened last month. We hope you'll visit soon on our behalf, and try on some CARLEEN in their cute dressing rooms!

 


1. Can you introduce yourselves?

We’re Madeleine and Elizabeth Poirrier, sisters and co-founders of The Pear House, a concept store in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood, an art-loving, fashion forward community. We opened in May 2026 with the goal of bringing together thoughtfully made clothing, accessories, home goods, and lifestyle products from independent brands we genuinely love from all around the world.

We’ve always bonded over discovering unique, beautifully made things, and The Pear House is how we get to share those discoveries with our community. Maddie tends to be the business brain and Lizzy the creative one, but honestly most decisions are deeply collaborative, which is one of the best parts of doing this together.



2. How did you decide to open The Pear House?

The Pear House grew out of a shared dream of creating the kind of store we always wished existed. We wanted it to feel like a home, the kind of place where you walk in, feel the creative energy right away, browse slowly, and maybe even sit and chat for a while.

The name comes from our family name, Poirrier, which means “pear tree” in French. We envisioned it as a place where creativity and community could genuinely take root, and doing that together as sisters has made every part of building it that much more rewarding.



3. Can you tell us how you first discovered CARLEEN?

We found CARLEEN through one of our showrooms and it was an instant reaction. The tablecloth pants stopped us immediately, the idea of taking reclaimed linens and reimagining them into something you'd actually want to wear every day felt so creative. The striped shirts were another favorite, incredibly soft and just effortlessly cool.



 
4. What does your customer appreciate about CARLEEN?

Our customers connect with the story behind each piece. They love that the small stains and wear in the fabric are kept in rather than hidden, and that each piece carries its own history and character. The small-batch element resonates too, seeing “skirt, 1 of 9” makes it clear these are truly one of a kind. We’ve found that CARLEEN sparks conversation in the store that is truly special.



5. We’re coming to Chicago to shop at The Pear House- what’s another place we must check out while we’re in the neighborhood?

You're in luck because both of our top picks are right in Wicker Park, just a 5 to 10 minute walk from us. Credo Beauty is a fully clean beauty destination with their own rigorous standards for every brand they carry, so you can shop there knowing everything has been vetted with real care. And The Olio Spaces is an ever-changing vintage market open most weekends, where different vendors bring in one-of-a-kind finds every time. Between the three of us you could easily spend a whole afternoon in the neighborhood. And to keep you caffeinated along the way, we recommend Oro Chocolate for coffee, matcha or just the best cup of hot chocolate!


Find The Pear Shop: Online | Instagram | IRL


Thank you Madeline and Lizzy!