Inside Mykita's Futuristic Eyewear Haven in Downtown LA
Photos: Courtesy of Mykita
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Inside Mykita's Futuristic Eyewear Haven in Downtown LA
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Inside Mykita's Futuristic Eyewear Haven in Downtown LA
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Inside Mykita's Futuristic Eyewear Haven in Downtown LA
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Inside Mykita's Futuristic Eyewear Haven in Downtown LA
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Inside Mykita's Futuristic Eyewear Haven in Downtown LA
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Inside Mykita's Futuristic Eyewear Haven in Downtown LA
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Inside Mykita's Futuristic Eyewear Haven in Downtown LA
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Inside Mykita's Futuristic Eyewear Haven in Downtown LA
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Inside Mykita's Futuristic Eyewear Haven in Downtown LA
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Inside Mykita's Futuristic Eyewear Haven in Downtown LA
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Inside Mykita's Futuristic Eyewear Haven in Downtown LA
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Inside Mykita's Futuristic Eyewear Haven in Downtown LA
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Inside Mykita's Futuristic Eyewear Haven in Downtown LA
Sitting on the ground floor of the Eastern Columbia building Tuesday afternoon, Mykita creative director and co-founder Moritz Krueger is explaining what it's like to live in LA's sister city of Berlin. The eyewear brand is the German metropolis' latest export, and today marks the official grand opening of its third stateside boutique in one of Downtown's most iconic landmarks.
"When the wall came down there were all of these new areas that developed first when when creative people were coming — young people, students. They set a [foundation] and planted seeds and the area became more and more interesting," he tells us. "The next generation of people came, and that's how the whole city developed. It was constant transformation; that's something that Downtown LA and Berlin have in common."
Sandwiched between Sweden's Acne Studios and Danish menswear brand Han Kjobenhaven's forthcoming shop, the 1,635-square-foot futuristic space features Mykita's modern eyewear for women, men, and kids, with styles falling in the $500 to $900 range. Expect to find super-lightweight stainless steel aviators, oversized frames in dark tortoise acetate, its avant-garde collaborations with Maison Margiela and Damir Doma, and sports-friendly styles made with Mylon, the brand's 3D laser-printed material that shook up the fashion and tech industries four years back.
Other merchandise highlights include a limited-edition round optical frame with a stainless steel sunglass clip-on, available in black or gold. In addition, eyewear aficionados will score an exclusive peek at a few styles from Mykita's next collection.
Interior design elements include the brand's signature bright white perforated fixtures, minimalist stainless steel and glass displays, and repurposed airplane trolleys. The shop also features an optical lab that'll fill prescriptions, plus a one-hour lens express service.
Explore more inside Mykita's first LA store and 12th location worldwide — they've got stores in Mexico, Colombia, Denmark, France, and Japan, to name a few — and scroll through the gallery above.
Mykita, 847 South Broadway, L.A., 90014; Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m.
