Read more: Inside Dover Street Market's Luxury Fashion and Streetwear Wonderland in DTLA
Here's more intel to get you hyped about Dover Street Market's West Coast début. In a recent chat with Wall Street Journal's WSJ. magazine as part of the publication's 10th anniversary September Style issue, married co-founders Rei Kawakubo (a.k.a. the mind behind Comme des Garçons) and Adrian Joffe revealed more details on their decision to open their sixth DSM outpost in Los Angeles. Originally slated to open in a 10,000-square-foot space this spring, we now know that the cult-cool fashion wonderland has upped its footprint to 21,500 square feet and is scheduled to arrive in Downtown's Arts District this fall.
"California was always about being open to new ideas," Joffe told the magazine. "It can go very weird, with face-lifts and the Oscars and things like that, and it can also go very interesting, with spirituality. It's not only sunshine and Venice Beach. Aldous Huxley lived there."
In the spirit of the Golden State's mystical-minded roots, Joffe even tapped three energy healers to bless the massive space with crystals, music and good vibes — all of which was documented in DSMLA's first dispatch video hosted by artist Rose Schlossberg. (WSJ notes that Joffe is friends with her mother is Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of Jackie Onassis and President John F. Kennedy.)
Speaking of energy, Joffe reveals that Kawakubo is designing the store herself and that the plans include a massive dividing wall intersected by "modern huts" made of corrugated metal because "Rei likes for the energy to flow." The anti-department retailer will also house Rose Bakery, which has outposts at Dover Street Market's stores in Tokyo, London, and New York.
In an email translated by Joffe, the Japanese fashion designer told WSJ that "my eye is through everything I do. I have always only worked on instinct and intuition. Everything is based on creativity and the same sense of values. It is all one thing."
Similar to DSM's other outposts, there won't be designated staff uniforms and there'll be "random" pop-up shop-in-shops, art installations, and kiosks highlighting limited-edition collabs. While there's no word yet on the designer roster in the clothing department, "legacy streetwear brand Stüssy sits around the corner from the French fashion house Balenciaga," notes the mag. (Vanity Fair previously reported that the market will house luxe jewelry by "innovative" American designers with "a unique point of view.")
To read the full interview, head here or pick up WSJ. magazine IRL when it hits newsstands August 25.
Dover Street Market LA
608 Imperial St., Los Angeles, CA 90021
