Fashion Coast to Coast

New York City is hands-down known as America’s fashion capital. Next only to finance, fashion is the second-largest sector of industry in New York City—the headquarters of more than 800 fashion companies, employing 175,000 people and generating $10 billion in total wages. The City is even dedicating a whole evening, Fashion’s Night Out, to celebrate (and to boost) the consumer spirit. One cannot walk the streets of New York without becoming a part of the city itself; eclectic fashion statements add on to the social fabric and energy of the city. I n New York, clothes are not just forms of expressions, but armor protecting against us from unpredictable weather to armies of brief carrying suits and packs of eager tourists. Fashion may be an integral part of New York’s identity, but to think that Manhattan is the only fashion orientated city in the US is as big as a faux pas as wearing white after Labor Day. As New Yorkers, it is time to remove our oversized sunglasses and focus to see that fashion does exist beyond the 22.96 square miles that make up NYC.

America is basically one large runway spanning from coast to coast. A close examination shows that the West Coast from California to Oregon is home to many established and up-and-coming designers. With our West Coast based clients like: True Religion, Columbia Sportswear, Forever 21, BCBG, and Adidas, Kenneth Park has become red-eye experts at meeting with the clients’ in-house design teams and store planners alike to work out all the details for cutting-edge outlets, flagships, and boutiques. New York based clients such as Michael Kors, Tourneau, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Steve Madden are not missing out on the West Coast action as they are working with KPA to open stores across both California (Costa Mesa, San Francisco, Carlsbad, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and Pleasanton) and Washington (Bellevue). KPA’s Associate/Director of Business Development, Amie Tesler, just flew in from San Diego after attending ICSC’s Deal Making Conference where she had a unique opportunity to connect with tenants, industry experts, career builders and entrepreneurs as well as maintain business relationships within the Western region. This year’s sessions featured in-depth discussions on capital markets, political perspectives and the economy. Kenneth Park Architects prides itself on delivering the highest level of architecture and designs services and expertise for our clients and thus we have identified significant demand for our market model out West. Stay tuned for more information about KPAs West Coast expansion with the opening of our Los Angeles office. The office’s close proximity to clients will allows KPA to better serve them, while also offering access to a wider breadth of retailers and developers. Details to follow…for the time being, no matter your locale, keep shopping!