Hey Everyone!
Dover Street Market is a store started by the brand “Comme de Garçon” which pulls together designers from all around the world to showcase their works. DSM’s merchandise is marked by wildly successful brands ranging from “Supreme” to “Gucci” and every brand in between and beyond. Recently, I was able to take a tour of the store with my FI
T Precollege class, here’s what happened:
On the walk from FIT to DSM, I find myself constantly looking out for an ex-school building turned high-end fashion store. It isn’t until I already walk W A Y past the store that my classmates who had previously visited call me over to the pristine, and understated front stoop. We wait outside for a little bit before three women in all black couture come out to find us. The women then guide us like a group of lost sheep into a side entrance, past a series of exceedingly well-dressed security guards, and into the front room
The unmarked building should, in theory, turn away potential customers simply because if it’s mysteriously camouflaged storefront. The exact same characteristic that would keep a customer from shopping in the store is, a lot of the time, what brings in customers. The extremely well-dressed tour guide/ sales associate/ social media representative explained to us that it is chiefly the supposed exclusivity that appeals to people; the glamor of possibly shopping alongside celebrities in an aloof, chic, New York City store is just as appealing as getting VIP passes to a music festival or invited to throw the first pitch at a Yankee game.
Our guide sends us with another sales associate who brings us up to the top floor by way of a GLASS ELEVATOR (I mean… how cool! I felt very much like Charlie in the chocolate factory) which allows us to catch a glimpse of the magical curation of designer goods as we rise. We step into the first exhibit-like showroom consisting of Supreme right next to Gucci, which is right next to Junya Watanabe. Following our lovely journey in the magic elevator, we make our way back down floor by floor, getting a better look at the extremely impressive detail that goes into every brand’s space before ending the tour with an informal Q&A session about how someone may get to working at a store like DSM.
I had always wanted to make my way into Dover Street Market, but I never really knew if I would find an opportunity to. I loved learning about everything DSM does! FIT Precollege Programs has once again opened doors for me to experience the industry in a really cool way!
Special thanks to the team at Dover Street Market for a great day! Make your way down to 160 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016! WARNING: It’s really cool :)
See you all next week!
~ Kaela