Shop Hopping

We’re starting the year off by returning to our roots, reconnecting with the fashion fringe like a ponytail in Avatar. After all, vulgar signs of conspicuous consumption and advanced capitalism are sooo last decade. First off, there’s Ra—not the Egyptian god, but a new Belgian concept store (which is somewhat redundant, we know). The visionary emporium is the brainchild of Romain Brau and Anna Kushnerova, two Antwerp Royal Academy grads devoted to promoting emerging talent alongside established pioneers. The sprawling space carries Gareth Pugh and Giles, alongside b Store, Henrik Vibskov and Damir Doma, as well as some handpicked gems from the outer reaches. The interior design is suitably whimsical with Middle Earth-like touches, among them a roof garden and a thatched-roof indoor hut designed by Mathieu Lehanneur. There’s also a gallery space hosting an array of site-specific projects, exhibitions, installations and performances. For Paris men's week, the store will introduce emerging talents Daniel Andersen, Icaro Ibanez and Lliure Briz… Just a stone’s throw away in neighboring Brussels, the shop/gallery hybrid Hunting and Collecting is intent on reviving our inner hunter and gatherer, with a slightly more rustic selection of goodies. Survival of the fittest will ensure hand-picked finds from Natascha Stone, Superfine, Anntian, Patrik Ervell and Cosmic Wonder. With a constantly rotating selection of men’s, women’s and even tots, the store will keep you coming back for seconds when it throws open its doors at the end of the month… Finally, the Los Angeles-based Them Atelier, which rethinks denim from the ground up, scrapping unnecessary embellishments along with hefty price tags. The Echo Park duo produces limited quantities of their streamlined designs (available in New York at Assembly NY and in L.A. at Church) at wallet-friendly prices, clearly the highest form of evolution.  

• Posted Jan 21, 2010
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