Dover Street Market is a shop in London which was set-up by Rei Kawakuno of Japanese label Comme des Garçons. As well as stocking lots of Comme des Garçons, they also carry high end brands such as Maison Martin Margiela, YSL, Damir Doma etc.
The first thing that struck me about the shop when I entered was the details. The shop is is set over six floors – with each floor carrying a different ‘theme’. For example, the ground floor is all white, the third floor is laid out on a giant chess board and the basement is set to look like a street.
DSM is unlike most stores in that it plays with lay-out and design. The changing rooms on each floor become centre pieces, rather than being there for their sole function. One of the changing rooms is an altered port-a-loo, another is a huge cylinder covered in beads and tassles. This challenges the regular conventions of shop design.
The garments themselves are also treated with more respect than most highstreet shops. Rather than rail after rail of clothes, they are laid out sparsely – which makes them garner more attention.
Usually I find high-end stores such as this very intimidating, however DSM is a fun and welcoming place to be.
"I want to create a kind of market where various creators from various fields gather together and encounter each other in an ongoing atmosphere of beautiful chaos: the mixing up and coming together of different kindred souls who all share a strong personal vision."
Rei KAWAKUBO
All photographs my own.
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