New York-based fashion brand Sandy Liang has thrown caution to the wind during the COVID-19 pandemic, and opened its first-ever physical store on the Lower East Side, where the label has created a playful, community-focused space in a former laundromat. Having founded her label in 2014, Liang was a 2017 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist. Earlier this year, she released her first footwear collection as part of a collaboration with Vans.
Located at 28 Orchard Street, the 1,500-square-foot store will showcase the quirky collections produced by the brand’s eponymous designer, known for her signature fleece jackets, trendy baby doll dresses and eye-catching original prints. Projected by Liang’s partner’s design firm, Almost Studio, the location combines a minimalist aesthetic with touches of whimsy and nostalgic nods to the designer’s personal history in the neighborhood, where her family has lived since the 1970s.
Metal mesh curtains and stainless-steel surfaces are brought together with pink walls which, as requested by Liang, still bear the measurement marks from the start of the construction process. The checkout counter is made from slabs of green marble that Liang found in her father’s storage unit, while most of the dressing room furniture comes from local store Coming Soon. Adding to the sense of childlike fun, the store’s swirling metal clothing racks were designed by Almost Studio to resemble a playground set.
Speaking to Vogue about the store’s design process, Liang explained that she had most enjoyed thinking about how her pieces would fit into the space. “I know what my clothes look like, but what does a space look like that is designed by me or has my aesthetic built into it? That turned out to be a mishmash of stuff,” she said. “It’s me and it’s the nostalgic element of my brand, but it’s also about being resourceful and using and representing things that are local.”
As reported by Vogue, the designer is planning to host neighborhood events in the store as soon as it is safe to do so, mentioning the possibility of a coat drive or a pop-up market with local businesses. She is also intending to create exclusive pieces for the location.
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