Gildas Loaec and Masaya Kuroki’s Maison Kitsuné is the ultimate side-project-that-could. The friends and partners launched their label in 2002 in the midst of other commitments: Loaec had been traveling the world managing Daft Punk; Kuroki is an architect. But the understated label—named for the Japanese word for fox, also the brand’s logo—took off, especially in Japan, and has been growing since. Until recently, it was more of a phenomenon abroad and an open secret among world travelers and music fans (Kitsuné also runs a successful record label). The arrival of the company’s unfussy, school-days separates at Barneys, Opening Ceremony, and Bergdorf Goodman brought the duo a new legion of fans, however, who should be very pleased to learn that a New York store is in the offing, designed, naturally, by Kuroki. The shop launches this month at the new, Jacques Garcia-designed NoMad Hotel in New York’s increasingly hot neighborhood north of Madison Square. (Competitor The Ace and its lobbyful of cool retailers is mere blocks away.) In between jaunts to Jamaica and perhaps a trip to Coachella, where a few of his bands are performing, Loaec will be in New York in a few weeks to christen the new store, and he is bringing along a Kitsuné America compliation album for the occasion. On a stop in New York last week, he shared a preview of the Fall collections; here’s your exclusive first look.
