Opening Ceremony comes to King Street
One of fashion’s most exciting retail concepts has chosen to open its first European store in Covent Garden. Fans of New York’s Opening Ceremony will now be able to shop the brand’s full range of legendary collections and collaborations without having to hop on a transatlantic flight.
This fashion-forward clothing emporium was founded in New York a decade ago by Carol Lim and Humberto Leon and was named after the traditionally spectacular launch moment of the Olympic Games. So it seems quite fitting that its new pop-up shop at 31-32, King Street will launch just in time for the opening ceremony of London 2012. Then, in September, there will be more cause for celebration as the permanent boutique will open a couple of doors down at number 35 just before the brand’s 10 year anniversary.
“We have had our hearts set on London since the beginning,” say Lim and Leon who have also opened stores in Los Angeles and Tokyo. “Covent Garden is a historic, global shopping destination and we’re looking forward to what Opening Ceremony will add to its exciting future.”
The designers’ unique take on retail is to stock Opening Ceremony’s ready-to-wear and accessories ranges for men, women and kids alongside collaborations with some of the edgiest names in fashion. Chloë Sevigny designed a bespoke collection for them which will be re-released for the London store in new colours and fabrics. There’s also a Topshop capsule collection, and new exclusive products by the likes of House of Holland and Delfina Delettrez to tie in with the Olympics. Adidas x Opening Ceremony will be the most exciting Olympics-themed collaboration with a collection that combines sporty separates with a street attitude, including printed bathing suits and new takes on classic Adidas Originals footwear.
And if you like your bookshelf to complement your wardrobe, look out for Opening Ceremony’s first foray into publishing – fashion and culture mag OC Annual plus a book published by Rizzoli and with contributors including Terry Richardson and Spike Jonze.
