When a small designer opens a brick and mortar shop, it signals something to me. Maybe, we all still appreciate the experiential side of fashion. Where you can fall in love with a piece of clothing or an accessory, not on your screen as you debate using Klarna to make a purchase, but right in front of you as you touch it and try it on. In the case of New York City based designer Susan Korn, who opened her first store in Manhattan's lower east side on Friday, you can become enamored with her colorful pieces in a place that feels like you walked into her mind.
Excitingly, it's not the first store to open in the area recently. Over the last few years, even months, a handful of internet buzzy brands and stores have popped up, indicating a sort of return to shopping after almost two years of uncertainty.
Now enter the new Susan Alexandra store, which sits between Good Luck Spa and an empty store front on Orchard Street. The bright yellow paint and eye-catching Mosiac sign are conspicuous and virtually unmissable among the red brick buildings.
Inside, her world of beaded bags and jewelry comes to life outside of just the accessories she sells. The walls are lined with brightly colored tiles that have pocket shelves displaying all of her bags. There is only one all-black bead bag among the rainbow of other colors. It's a fanny pack that features a subtle navy blue buckle. "A pop of color," she explained as she held it out for me.
In the back, a big mirror makes the shop feel like an endless tunnel and the walls are lined with jewelry: shrimp cocktail earrings, beaded hoops, and layering necklaces.
Part of changing fashion is by appreciating it. Small designers creating a world around their art is one way to help us do that.
The Susan Alexandra shop on 83 Orchard Street opens October 29th.
