comme des garçons boutique graces old bank district
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Yesterday marked the unveiling of a new Comme des Garçons shop in Downtown's trendy Old Bank District, reports the Los Angeles Times.
The avant-garde label started in 1969 by Japanese fashion designer Rei Kawakubo will supply Angelenos with its high-fashion apparel for a limited time through its "guerrilla store" concept.
Following similar retail strategies in cities like Singapore, Athens, Warsaw and Beirut, Comme des Garçons has chosen Los Angeles as its entrance into the U.S. market.
"They're ephemeral, temporary events," said Christian Weinecke, the Paris-based employee responsible for setting up the guerrilla store.
Comme des Garçons has flagship stores in New York, Paris and Tokyo but also sells clothing in such upscale specialty stores as Saks Fifth Avenue and Ron Herman. The guerrilla concept arose from Kawakubo's 2004 visit to Berlin, where she saw entrepreneurs opening unique cutting-edge boutiques in the heart of the city.
A lofty former bank space on 4th Street, behind the sneaker shop Blends, will house the retail operations for one year only. Its “hideaway-style” entrance is accessible off Harlem Place Alley.
Oh Yes, We’re Cool
In recent years, Downtown has seen other fashion trendsetters take a chance on the market, mostly throughout the recesses of Chinatown.
On New High Street between Alpine and Ord, a unique place called New High (M)art was the first to introduce Downtowners to the comparable “pop-up store” retail idea — exhibiting an ever-changing display of original “shows” by different artists/designers. A few doors away, Lion’s Den also offers cutting-edge men and women’s clothing.
Tucked behind Hop Louie’s Restaurant on the other side of the neighborhood, Welcome Hunters gives us unconventional European fashions — such as KTZ and best behavior — that may be difficult to find in other parts of the city.
With all the chic joints landing here, who needs cookie-cutter garments from Urban Outfitters anyway?
-Boutique is naked at its opening (Los Angeles Times)
-new boutiques shake chinatown’s touristy image
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14 comments
I have mixed feelings about high-end shops like this for this area. On one hand, it’s nice to look at as i walk down the street; on the other hand, I had to schlep all the way to Home Depot on Wilshire the other day to buy vacuum cleaner bags!
We’ll se how CdG feels about being on a block that is closed every other day for filming, and which has a permanent (illegal) film location next door at the Barclay.
When the glitterati can’t get there, what happens then?
chill out, bert green. stores are still accessible during filming, so don’t hassle it.
lastraphangler…what about the machinery & tools shops on 7th & Olive near the Olviatt? And, there’s another tool shop on 9th & Olive/Hill. We don’t need large chain stores like a Home Depot, that require its own underground garage; where pedestrians are hidden from the street.
Damn, did any of you read the article. It’s not even fronting the street, it’s in the alley behind the Blends store.
“chill out, bert green. stores are still accessible during filming, so don’t hassle it.”
Really? Ever been told you can’t walk down the street when a film crew is there? Just wait until pilot season starts next month. 4th Street won’t function, just like last year.
bert’s right - filming at 4th and main is always disruptive to business. not only are businesses inaccesible but parking is near impossible on the street, and highway access is limited almost every weekend by mulitple street closures.
bert, i am firmly on your side on this issue—for what little it’s worth :-)
I think you guys are missing the point. Comme de Garcons is the kind of label that would put a store in an industrial wastefield if it somehow “recontextualized commercial space”. Their whole schtick is that their work is art as much as it is fashion. The “guerrilla stores” are supposed to be inaccessible, difficult and hard to find; three adjectives that all help define its luxury status.
http://www.psfk.com/2007/11/comme-des-garcons-guerrilla-store-in-warsaw.html
“. The locations for these CDG hit-and-runs are always in gentrified neighborhoods - the new Williamsburgs or Hoxtons of the world’s emerging cities.”
The idea of “recontextualizing commercial space” is bullshit. Just because they say it does not make it true. It’s a simple, reproducible formula. I saw it in New York in the 70s when Commes des Garcons opened there. No mystery, nothing groundbreaking. They are selling clothes, pure and simple. They do it well, I must say, but to give it magical properties is insane and slavish.
The Commes des Garcons guerrila store is perfect! They know how to sell clothes right. They give us, the shoppers, what we love. We love searching for a good store. And better yet, none of our friends will be wearing the same CdG sweater. Everything is overpriced because if it wasn’t it might not be as appealing to us. I am still thinking about dropping a G on a perfectly made raw and organic headband
I also have to mention the visuals of the store. I won’t spoil it for those who have not seen it, but man these visuals were like anthropologie on crack! And I do not care what clothes Anthropologie sells. It is the visuals at that store that bring me in!
Seriously…this is why I love LA!
Uh… consider Downtown 110% gentrified?
And all it took was an overpriced headband store. Who knew?
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