Retail Intel: Sneaker Brand Atoms Opens First-Ever Pop-Up + More News

Click here to read the full article.

Sept. 27, 2019: New sneaker brand Atoms debuted its first retail location via a pop-up store in New York’s SoHo neighborhood today. It will run through Oct. 31. The brand, which launched in June by founders Waqas Ali and Sidra Qasim, sets itself apart by offering its Atoms Model 000 style in quarter-size increments. Customers can also select different sizes for their left and right feet to find the perfect fit. The 1,000-square-foot pop-up will offer an exclusive colorway as well. In addition, Atoms will host events during its SoHo stay, including a panel discussion curated by Lauri Freedman of the Whitney Museum of American Art and a screening of documentary shorts from director Nicholas Heller. The shop, located at 264 Elizabeth St., will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Sept. 26, 2019: Fashion-comfort brand, SAS Footwear, known for its “made in America” footwear, is heading to the Big Apple with its first-ever pop-up. It will be housed in a state-of-the-art, 18-foot van stationed on the Avenue of the Americas between West 42nd and West 43rd streets, on Oct. 4 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Then on Oct. 5, it will move to Columbus Avenue between West 66th and West 67th streets. Visitors will be eligible for discounts to shop on the SAS website and the chance to win four pairs of shoes, one for each season, in the SAS Step Into Luxury giveaway. Each day, a surprise guest will also be on board the van.

More from Footwear News

• Gigi & Bella Hadid Twin in Max Mara's Spy Thriller Runway Show

• How Kanye West Topped Drake to Become One of the World's Richest Rappers

• Rosanna Arquette Says She Still Doesn't Know How to Walk in Heels at 59 Years Old

Sept. 24, 2019: Vans’ cultural hub and international music venue, House of Vans, is making a stop in Philadelphia. Vans will open a pop-up Oct. 10–13 at 404 N. 2nd St. that will “celebrate art, music, action sports and street culture.” It will launch Thursday with a concert by rap star Tierra Whack (a Philly native), indie rock band Hop Along and musician Orion Sun. Other musicians to perform throughout the weekend include Phantogram, Channel Tres and Y La Bamba. (Vans is also bringing its “Gives a Band” program to Philadelphia, offering area public schools the chance to receive $10,000 worth of music equipment and a $10,000 grant to fund their music program.) Other art and music-related efforts for the weekend include free music workshops, the “If These Walls Could Talk — Philly Art Retrospective” from art collective Space 1026, a skate photography retrospective titled “2 Tales, 1 City” and several more. As for the involvement of skateboarding, Vans has partnered with Skate Philly to build an indoor park with open skate sessions available throughout the duration of the pop-up and a cash-for-tricks contest dubbed “Pyramid Scheme.” What’s more, the brand’s sponsored skaters Pedro Delfino, Nick Michel, Corey Glick, Roman Pabich, Cedric Pabich, Taylor Kirby and Richie Rizzo will be in attendance.

Sept. 19, 2019: Supreme has closed its original New York City location. After 25 years, the brand and retailer shut down its store at 274 Lafayette St. Images of signs on the window surfaced yesterday that read, “Supreme is now located at 190 Bowery. Corner of Bowery and Spring.” The new door has been Supreme’s home since February, when it announced its Lafayette door would be undergoing renovations.

Sept. 19, 2019: MSGM is opening a new flagship in Milan on Sept. 21, after its Milan Fashion Week runway show. The new location is inspired by Milanese design, with vintage sofas and colorful glass vases; it also features exposed concrete and Brutalist architecture. Encompassing 4,752 square feet on two levels, the new space, replacing a former shop in the artsy Brera district, will become the brand’s biggest store. The new location is on Milan’s Via Broletto, in a former bank in Brera. Its opening coincides with MSGM’s 10th anniversary. MSGM will have 40 stores internationally by the end of 2019, after another shop opens in Tokyo.

Sept. 19, 2019: According to FN’s sister publication WWD, Macy’s has unveiled a new menswear space at its Herald Square flagship. The 4,500-square-foot shop, dubbed Park, houses an assortment of new and existing brands on the main floor of the retailer’s men’s department. (The area formerly belonged to Macy’s dress furnishings, which is now located to the fifth floor next to tailored apparel.) A soft opening was held last Thursday, with WWD reporting that three-quarters of the department is now open and the remainder will be completed in mid-October.

Sept. 17, 2019: Manolo Blahnik has opened its second outpost in Osaka, Japan, riding a wave of success in Asia after recently launching stores in Tokyo. The luxury brand found a home in the Daimaru Shinsaibashi department store, where a blend of their aesthetics inspired the design of the retail space. The concept takes cues from the art deco and neo-Gothic history of the 1933 building and the mosaic ceiling at the entrance of the store. Other standout features include natural linen-lined walls, polished marble shelving and upholstery in rustic oranges and mint greens. “The Daimaru Shinsaibashi store is an iconic building with such a strong heritage and history, pillars synonymous with our brand,” said CEO Kristina Blahnik. “I am thrilled we are launching a concession there with the Bluebell Group. They have already proven to be an excellent partner, launching beautiful spaces in prestigious locations, and we look forward to the next one to launch in Japan.”

Sept. 16, 2019: Swedish footwear brand Vagabond Shoemakers is expanding its presence in the United States with the launch of an e-commerce concept store. Already housed at department store chains Nordstrom and Urban Outfitters, as well as online fashion shop Asos, the label announced that it was building its presence in the North American market and debuting an exclusive collection with specialty retailer Need Supply Co., dubbed Atelier by Vagabond. The line centers on three footwear trends of the season: ’90s, Western and sport shoes. Both the website and the collection will be accessible starting Sept. 25.

Sept. 14, 2019: To celebrate Drake’s residency with the Wynn Las Vegas, the resort and casino has launched a pop-up boutique featuring the rapper’s lifestyle brand, October’s Very Own, also known as OVO, inside the Wynn Plaza shopping space. The 700-square-foot store will feature weekly drops debuting every Friday, including an exclusive OVO Wynn shop T-shirt, OVO collaboration items, the staple OVO Essentials collection and new in-line pieces from the brand’s fall/holiday collection. The pop-up will run from Sept. 14 to mid-January 2020.

Sept. 13, 2019: British brand Irregular Choice has made its brick-and-mortar debut in Latin America, opening a shop in Mexico City’s artsy, hipster Roma area — an apt choice for its quirky shoes. The cult-favorite company’s new digs reflect its whimsical reputation with unicorns, glitter walls and custom Irregular Choice print flooring. It will be stocked with footwear, handbags and accessories. Irregular Choice has nine stores worldwide, and its founder and designer Dan Sullivan said the new outpost is part of his strategy to establish a greater footprint in the Americas market. “I believe that the new store will be a huge success. Customers will thrive on the brand’s unique products, which will bring something different to suit everyone,” Sullivan said. “This store is the beginning of an expansion plan that will develop across Americas over the next 12–18 months.”

Sept. 3, 2019: Max Mara has debuted it first flagship in South Korea. Based in Seoul, the 3,240-square-foot space is home to both the Italian house’s namesake brand as well as the Sportmax branch. The store, designed by Duccio Grassi Architects, features expansive windows, walls covered in brass and stone floors. A limited-edition capsule collection of three items with the brand’s heritage prints is also being released today to mark the occasion, along with an opening party hosted by VP of U.S. retail and global brand ambassador Maria Giulia Prezioso Maramotti.

Sept. 3, 2019: The LeBron James co-founded Unknwn shop is coming to Miami. The company, which was created in 2011 with Jaron Kanfer and Frankie Walker Jr., is scheduled to open a new location in December across from Wynwood Walls. The space is roughly 10,000 square feet, with 3,000 designated for retail and a 4,000-square-foot courtyard “for sporting and lifestyle events for the Miami community and global travelers.” Highlights include 175 feet of shelving that can display 175 sneakers, more than 20 custom-dyed shelving and displays, and upwards of 200 feet of mural wall space for art creations and artist expressions. Aside from the store, the firm said it will also relaunch its e-commerce website. The new Unknwn door will be located at 261 NW 26th Street in Miami. To celebrate the opening, Unknwn will host a series of events during Art Basel Miami.

Want more?

Retail Intel: August 2019

Retail Intel: July 2019

Retail Intel: June 2019

Watch FN’s interview with Saucony president Anne Cavassa.

Sign up for FN's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.