Fashion, art and travel meet in a retail store, a fashion brand and more… All of this, is Opening Ceremony, founded in 2002 in New York by two friends, Carol Lim and Humberto Leon as a place to share their passion for travel, fashion and art. This project was born following a trip to Hong Kong, and it was at that moment that the two decided to leave their work to realize this dream.
What was initially a small shop on a quiet street in the center of New York, today is a real global community with department stores located in New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo, a wholesale showroom, an in-store clothing line. house, a blog and an e-commerce website.
Today, OC continues to grow according to the founding principles of exploration and friendship, to create a creative environment that goes far beyond the world of fashion. This is how collaborations with brands like Rodarte, Pendleton and Maison Martin Margiela are born, or with creators such as Spike Jonze, Terence Koh and Chloë Sevigny.
Moreover, in 2011, the founders Carol and Humberto embarked on a new experience as creative directors of Kenzo, bringing the historic French fashion house to the fore.
Taking its name and mission from the modern Olympics, founded by baron Pierre de Coubertin, Opening Ceremony adopts a multinational approach to retail with a peculiarity that makes it unique in its kind.
In fact, every year the stores show the spirit and the goods of each country that the founders visit, transforming each store into a market of international talent. With constantly changing exhibits, visiting Opening Ceremony is always an act of exploration. Zines, souvenirs and art installations make every shopping trip a truly unique experience.
OPENING CEREMONY NEW YORK
Opening Ceremony at 35 Howard Street, New York
Opening Ceremony New York was the first store opened by Carol and Humberto and still remains the heart and soul of OC.It is divided into two spaces still located at numbers 35 and 33 of Howard Street at the intersection of Soho and Chinatown, in the center of a lively creative district. Renovated by Carol, Humberto and their friends and family, the shop was the first example of the ethics of do-it-yourself that has always distinguished OC and today occupies four floors of women’s clothing including established designers such as Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler and Rodarte as well as a series of emerging talents. The second space, instead, houses men’s clothing of brands such as Acne, Band of Outsiders, Kenzo, Jeremy Scott and Opening Ceremony.
Opening Ceremony at Ace Hotel Midtown, New York
The second OCNY store is instead hidden in the atrium of the Midtown Ace Hotel and mainly revolves around a gift shop, composed of essential travel items selected by Carol and Humberto during their adventures, as well as a well-groomed mix of men’s and women’s fashion. On the male side of the store, buyers can find the latest arrivals from Kenzo, Acne Studios and Vault by Vans. The female part presents Alexander Wang, Kenzo and Opening Ceremony, along with special internal collaborations. Since opening in February 2010, Opening Ceremony at Ace has become a favorite shopping destination among locals and travelers.
OPENING CEREMONY LOS ANGELES
Opening Ceremony, Los Angeles
Opening Ceremony opened its Los Angeles store in April 2007, on La Cienega Boulevard in West Hollywood. Located in the former dance studio of Charlie Chaplin, the vast two-story space was designed to echo the culture of the Southern California shopping center of Carol and Humberto’s teens. The shop, among its relaxed vibrations typical of its founders, represents for OC, both a new chapter and a return home.
Downstairs, the extensive sales area of OCLA offers a full selection of Opening Ceramics brands. Upstairs, the mini-mall plays with a series of shop-in-shops designers with brands such as Acne, Mayle, Alexander Wang, Band of Outsiders and D.A.P. that occupy single spaces specially designed to show everyone’s aesthetics.
Opening Ceremony, Los Angeles
The flagship of OCLA is the small house of accessories. A graceful wooden cabin houses shoes, bags, bijoux and a special jewelry collection by Carrie Imberman.
OPENING CEREMONY TOKYO
Opening Ceremony, Tokyo Omotesando
In April 2013, Opening Ceremony opened a new flagship store on Cats Alley in the Omotesando district of Tokyo, with the help of a special guest so dear to the Japanese: Hello Kitty. Replacing the first store in Shibuya, inaugurated in 2009, the current Omotesando store occupies a 13,000-square-meter in a four floors building designed to encompass the entire universal OC range.
Located in a major thoroughfare for Tokyo fashion, the store celebrates the eclectic style of the city with four themed floors adorned with bright graphics inspired by Ben Day and showcases painted in the shape of animals. To celebrate the opening of Omotesando, brands such as Kenzo, Rodarte, Pamela Love, Peter Jensen and Band of Outsiders have created an exclusive product for the store that currently hosts men’s and women’s collections and collaborations including Chloë Sevigny, Yoko Ono, adidas Originals, DKNY and GVGV.
Opening Ceremony, Tokyo Omotesando
For more information on all Opening Ceremony stores, visit the dedicated page on SHOPenauer.com
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