Detroit: Downtown Detroit has another fashion retailer ready to open its doors.
McMullen, a luxury fashion boutique, will make its Detroit debut on Friday as a six-month pop-up. The store at 1419 Woodward is McMullen’s second store, the first location outside of California.
“Our goal is to stay in Detroit for the long term,” founder Sherri McMullen said during a media open house Thursday. “We wouldn’t be in this space long term, but this is a great place to start and especially in this location.”
McMullen is across the street from the Shinola Hotel and joins other retailers on the block, including Bonobos, House of Pure Vin, and Warby Parker. The 2,500-square-foot space previously housed the Dose Collective pop-up.
The store is bright as light streams in through large windows. Large canvases throughout the store display the colorful artwork of Detroit painter and photographer Jason Johnson.
Racks and shelves line the store and feature a selection of designer clothing, home goods and accessories including tops and dresses by Detroit designer Tracy Reese, Estelle Glassware and outerwear by Proenza Schouler.
Other designers include Christopher John Rogers, Rachel Comey, Peter Do, Aisling Camps, and Mara Hoffman.
Originally from Oklahoma, McMullen got her start in the retail industry while studying business in college. She turned to fashion with an interest in working behind the scenes. McMullen, a former Neiman Marcus buyer, opened her own store in 2007 in Oakland, California. Since then, her store has grown from 700 to 3,000 square feet.
McMullen said he had been in talks with Bedrock for two years to bring a store to Detroit.
“When I came here in February and I was walking around downtown, going through these alleys and seeing all these amazing local artists…” he said. “This is a great community. I feel like the fashion, the art, the music, the food, all of that relates to the city of Detroit. I wanted to be a part of that. I felt it was the right time.”
McMullen’s focus is on female-owned creators, as well as African and African-American designers.
“It’s important to be a black woman in my position and be able to buy and invest in all the different brands, but it’s especially important to invest in brands made by people who look like me. Many times we are not given the opportunity to be in the big luxury stores. Many times we have been overlooked,” she said.
“…I look at quality, beauty. I look at all of these things. How a garment is made. How are they produced. Are they produced responsibly? Are people going to resonate with that? Where are they wearing it? Usability . A lot of different things,” McMullen said. “So I’m not looking at a designer just because he’s a black designer. I’m looking at a designer because they’re great designers and they happen to be black designers.”
The store opens at a time when downtown Detroit welcomes other retailers to the city, including a Gucci store that opened last month on Library Street.
“This is a pivotal time for retail in Detroit and McMullen is not only bringing a new design offering, but also paving the way for emerging brands to break into the market,” Ivy Greaner, COO of Bedrock he said in a statement.
The store will employ a manager and is actively looking for stylists.
In addition to Tracy Reese and Jason Johnson, the store is seeking additional Detroit artists and designers, said Marie Nguyen, McMullen’s director of marketing.
There are also plans to hold community events at the store, he said.
“We’re interested in weaving together very thoughtful conversations and intentional conversations, whether it’s around community, the arts, food, whatever,” Nguyen said. “And music. And then connecting that thread to fashion.”
McMullen is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Twitter: @CWilliams_DN
Source: www.detroitnews.com