Rei Kawakubo-Designed Store Debuts With Exhibitions And Unique Retail Experience
Dover Street Market Paris has officially opened in the historic Hôtel de Coulanges, a building constructed between 1627 and 1634 and once home to Madame de Sévigné, a notable figure in French 17th-century literature.
The new store spans the ground and first floors, as well as one of the three basements. The remaining basements and the courtyard will host art, literary, music, and community events. Future plans include inviting artists to transform the store with exhibitions, continuing the creative legacy of the now-defunct Association 3537, which previously occupied the building.
Rei Kawakubo, the visionary designer behind the project, has ensured that no clothing will be visible from the outside, and there will be no dedicated brand spaces or concessions. This design encourages customers to embark on a voyage of discovery. Kawakubo believes that the more customers work to find items themselves, the greater their sense of satisfaction.
The second, third, and fourth floors will house the DSMP Brand Development division. Adrian Joffe, President of Dover Street Market, emphasized the evolving journey of DSM, stating, “It has been a journey, a magnificent adventure of challenges, obstacles, discoveries, and delights. The only aim has ever been to create something new, open-minded, and borderless.”
The opening features an installation and exhibition titled “Comme des Garçons for and by Paolo Roversi” until June 27. Additionally, basement level BF-1 hosts an installation by Matty Bovan until June 6.
Reflecting on the store’s ethos, Joffe said, “We have achieved together a flowerful fearlessness. We have consoled ourselves in our complicit connections and celebrated our unrivaled sense of community. We have arrived at a place, not a forest nor a plateau, not a valley nor a peak. Just a place with a beautiful view of behind and above.”
The Rose Bakery café, also designed by Kawakubo, adds to the unique experience of the store. The absence of visible clothing from the exterior and the lack of dedicated brand spaces emphasize the store’s philosophy of discovery and surprise.
As Dover Street Market Paris embarks on this new chapter, Joffe remains committed to the store’s guiding principles: “Only the trust in accidents and the faith in free thinking have guided us. We have tried to learn from our mistakes and never shied away from taking risks.”
Dover Street Market Paris aims to be more than just a retail space. As Joffe notes, “It is, in fact, already a building in which we hope to build and open a new pathway ahead, building on everything we have accomplished and daring to tread in the unknown.”
The collection at DSM Paris is expected to draw significant attention, offering an immersive shopping experience that blends high fashion with cutting-edge art and culture.
