It was a chilly start for cultural lifestyle folk Kinfolk at the end of January as they launched their first store in Williamsburg, New York, but once the pavement has been cleared of snow it was all systems go for the Tokyo/Brooklyn firm’s new project. Kinfolk is already well-established in the city, one door down from this property at 94 Wythe Avenue (90 Wythe) already houses the Kinfolk design studio cum coffee shop cum gallery space, as well as the delightful little Michelin-starred restaurant Aska we dropped in on a few months ago. Phew.
Perhaps the most noteworthy feature of 94 Wythe’s retail space is the craftsman-futurist cedar geodesic dome – custom made, unsurprisingly – that dominates the architectural composition of the two-storey interior in impressive fashion. And speaking of fashion: in addition to Kinfolk’s own label, there is menswear from worldwide labels including Bleu De Paname (Paris), Maharishi (London) and Bedwin & The Heartbreakers (Tokyo), as well as grooming products, art and fashion mags, and books. Kinfolk isn’t resting on its laurels either, as there are already plans afoot for a Los Angeles outpost and a revamp to the brand’s flagship store in Tokyo. Calm down ‘folks, you’ll wear yourselves out!
