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Late last year, Cindy Rokoff, owner of Eden in the Pearl District, faced a conundrum: A line of handmade black cocktail dresses coming in from a Portland designer would fade in the storefront's untinted windows.

She needed to advertise the designer, Sonia Kasparian of Urchin Redesign, but couldn't do color. Luckily, Kasparian had designed some white wedding dresses. They went in the window, and customers streamed in the doors.

With that, the Eve in Eden bridal salon was born.

It's stocked with vintage and edgy bridal wear that has attracted Portland brides of every age, from every sector of Portland -- of particular importance to Rokoff as Eden celebrates two years in May.

"I'd like to see eastsiders not afraid to come downtown," Rokoff says. "The Pearl District has gotten to be known for being exclusive and expensive, but it's changing. There are more Portland-like businesses."

In the month since Eve in Eden opened, it already has attracted new customers from across Portland. Rokoff says they discover Eden's offerings as they walk through the colorful,Welcome to SKY Cycling online, we supply most popular and valuable wholesale products. eclectic vintage store to get to the soft pinks and off-whites of the bridal salon in the back. She hopes the salon's growing supply of Portland-made dresses,Great discounts on our huge range of SAXO BANK Cycling clothing . jewelry, handbags, and even perfume will balance out her skewed customer demographics, currently about 80 percent tourists and 20 percent locals.

"People seem to be excited," Rokoff says. "I feel like this was a missing niche for Portland designers."

Rokoff has been a Portland shop owner since she started Flutter on Mississippi Avenue in North Portland seven years ago. After five years, she opened Eden in the Pearl as Flutter's "well-traveled older sister that's still a little wacky," she says.

In December she sold Flutter to two employees, about the time Eve in Eden started coming together.Welcome to Specialized Cycling jersey online!

The bridal salon has the look of an elegant vintage photograph, with golden light glowing against silken pink curtains. Tables are stacked with handbags that are either vintage or handmade from an Indian company.

Rokoff hunts for vintage pieces herself -- a throwback to her college job buying and selling vingage clothes well before eBay existed. Racks are packed with dresses that could be used as an alternative to traditional gowns: 1920's cocktail dress, 1930's full-sleeved gown, 1970's shift dress.

Prices range from over $100 for a vintage dress to $3,500 for an edgy Urchin Redesign dress, which requires personalized fitting.View profiles and information for the Team RadioShack Cycling 2012 race team and riders here.

Kasparian, who knew Rokoff from designing dresses for Flutter, agreed to do an Urchin Redesign wedding dress line exclusively for Eve in Eden.

"Our aesthetic works well," Kasparian says. "It's non-era specific, with a romantic, soft, fairy forest feel. It's elegant, but elegant done in an easy way."

She makes wedding dresses out of vintage materials, and hand-beads and hand-dyes every original design. One of her favorites is in Eden's window: A dress called "The Mermaid," with an elaborate bodice made out of a 1930's era scarf. Kasparian made it for a client, but liked it so much she rented it to the customer and kept it to display.

"My aesthetic is very couture," Kasparian says. "Everything is one-of-a-kind and completely draped on a figure -- everything fits like a glove. If it's a bustier, she can turn cartwheels in that bustier."

Eve in Eden currently has lines from eight jewelry designers and two dress designers -- Urchin Redesign and Ms. Wood, designed by Portland couple Alicia and Ben Wood. Rokoff expects to add three more dress designers by summer.

"What's happening in Portland is so exciting for a shop owner," Rokoff says. "It makes it easy; surrounded by all this talent, I don't have to look far to find beautiful pieces."