One of the year’s most buzzed about boutiques, located in one of the year’s most buzzed about hotels, Maison Kitsuné, is a decade-old Parisian fashion and music label that made its North American debut in April, in The NoMad Hotel’s lobby. Known for their namesake line, their collaborations with (among others) Le Baron‘s André Saraiva, and their stock of niche fashion and beauty brands like WANT Les Essentiels de La Vie, Maison Kitsuné stands out even amidst the flood of Parisian boutiques that have opened in Manhattan as of late.
We speak to general manager Shane Fonner to find out more.
Boutique: Maison Kitsuné
Location: The NoMad Hotel, 1170 Broadway, at 28th Street
Owners: Gildas Loaec and Masaya Kuroki
Launch date: April 2012
Store concept: Conceived as an engaging experience in fashion, music, design and lifestyle, Maison Kitsuné presents a unique retail experience in a forward-thinking and lively space — all set in one of the city’s most dynamic creative hubs, the NoMad District.
Specializing in: Timeless high-quality men’s and women’s clothing, accessories, music, and lifestyle products.
Best sellers: Men’s suiting, cardigans, and denim; Women’s brushed silk dresses and outerwear.
Typical customer: We’re happy to say that we meet with everyone from the fashion-minded twentysomething, to artists and creatives, to the more established professional. Maison Kitsuné appeals to a wide range of customers.
Store aesthetic: A typical Parisian apartment meets New York classical chic. We want our customers to feel at home at Maison Kitsuné and get a taste of Kitsuné’s French lifestyle.
Most unique items: All of our collaborations: the Brooklyn We Go Hard x Kitsuné Tee sweater, the lingerie developed by Yasmine Eslami for Maison Kitsuné, an all of Kitsuné’s 10 year anniversary special products (coming soon). We also carry Michel Vivien shoes, WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie bags and accessories, Monocle products and Aesop skincare. It’s quite a unique mix!
Inspiration for opening the boutique: New York has always inspired the co-founders of the brand, Gildas Loaec and Masaya Kuroki. Fashion and music seamlessly overlap in the Maison Kitsuné brand, much like within New York City, and the founders were inspired to create a retail concept that reflected that.
Listening to: Kitsuné Maison Compilation 14, released on October 15th. Two Door Cinema Club and Citizens! new albums.
The staff is talking about: The amazing outerwear in the Fall/Winter collection and the exciting in-store music events we’ll be hosting this season.
If I didn’t run the boutique: I’d be developing brand concepts, creative-directing a hip, downtown vintage motorcycle-inspired menswear line, and traveling the world establishing boutique hotels.
In my free time, you’ll find me: Sketching menswear, hanging around Tribeca, or lounging in tragically hip foreign locales.
