Following the opening of a standalone store in London and Seoul earlier this year, Japanese sportswear brand Goldwin continues its global retail expansion overseas, inaugurating a new retail space in yet another leading shopping destination—New York City. The company, headquartered in Tokyo, secured a lofty, 169 sqm. (1,815 sq.ft.) unit on the ground floor of a modern, mixed-use building on bustling Lafayette Street. Similar to the previously opened stores, the interior design of the Big Apple store has been created by Tokyo-based architecture practice New Material Research Laboratory, featuring a setting that’s rooted in the ancient concept of the five elements—earth, water, fire, wind, and void. Mind you, these elements symbolise the laws of nature and the continuous cycle of life, and here, it’s merged with the knowledge and brand philosophy of Goldwin Tech Lab, its research and development facility in Oyabe, and form the very foundation of the design.

This has resulted in an understated setting with a circular Yashiro, or ring, and also meaning ‘shrine’, which takes centre stage. This striking structure is a stage for the brand to present its style and principles to the world, inviting shoppers into the heart of its story. Presented within the ring are a curated range of Goldwin classics and standard products. Placed around the ring are LED screens installed across twelve pillars, which collectively feature a rotation of branded content, but also video works by artists. As such, the retail space gains an ever-evolving dynamic. Meanwhile inside the ring, rows of Akita cedar pillars, symbolising traditional Japanese beauty, stand like a quiet forest, creating a tranquil refuge away from the city’s hustle and bustle. The new Goldwin New York store carries the full range of men’s and women’s apparel and accessories. © superfuture