Balenciaga evokes old world glamour in new NYC flagship store
Balenciaga fans can rejoice. After much anticipation, New York’s Soho neighborhood is now the new home for Balenciaga’s flagship store. Recently appointed creative director Alexander Wang worked with longtime friend, interior designer Ryan Korban, who is also credited with designing Balenciaga’s menswear store and Alexander Wang’s boutique on Grand Street, to create a truly unique space.
Whilst his predecessor Ghesquière focused on making Balenciaga futuristic, Wang is taking the brand back to its classic luxury roots with a focus on its heritage. The 4,120-square-foot store is split across two floors and boasts a triple-height ceiling, complete with a skylight, evoking the feel of a cathedral mixed with a modern museum. The sophisticated tile floors are a nod to Cristobal Balenciaga’s original salon in Paris’ 8th arrondissement and Wang also referenced motifs from his Balenciaga debut by having deep green Verde Ramegiatto marble walls.
The store has an intimate yet luxurious vibe with lavish embroidered chairs and shelves decked in rich suede. Balenciaga’s NYC flagship will offer ready-to-wear, leather goods, jewelry, shoes, fragrance and eyewear with distinct spaces for each category of goods.
Wang stated he was “thrilled to have created a new home in Soho, a neighborhood everyone in the world crosses,” and touched upon his plans for the future; “From here, we’ll focus on a new statement in Tokyo next year; this is just the beginning, and I’m looking forward.”
The Balenciaga flagship, located at 148 Mercer Street, will open to the public on Friday, November 22, but not without celebration. Alexander Wang will be hosting a private cocktail party tomorrow night before the store is officially open for business.
