On December 21, Comme des Garçons opened Dover Street Market New York (160 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10016) in New York. This is the brand's fourth store, following those in London, Beijing, and Ginza.
The store's concept and direction were created by Rei Kawakubo. The store was renovated from the New York Women's Art and Design College in the residential Kips Bay district of Manhattan. This area is not what you'd call a fashion district, with only a few restaurants and other establishments scattered around. The shop occupies seven floors above ground and has a total floor area of 1,674 square meters.
As Kawakubo commented, "I want to create a market where creators from diverse backgrounds can come together under the concept of 'beautiful chaos' and create new value," the store is filled with a variety of content. Three art towers rise from the first floor, balancing the overall sense of unity amid the chaos, much like Kohei Nawa's artwork at the Ginza store. The wood-paneled "Spontaneous City NY" by London Fieldworks and the colorful "Everlasting Gobstopper (Alcohol Inducing)" by Magda Sayeg stand in front of the elevators and extend all the way to the sixth floor, while Leo Sewell's "Rap Wrap," decorated with various materials, reaches all the way to the seventh floor. Around the staircase, an art tunnel by Arakawa & Gins is located, and sound artist Calx Vive's sound works are emitted from objects scattered throughout the space to appeal to both the visual and auditory senses. The store will carry Comme des Garçons brands, as well as Alaia, Daniela Gregis, Jil Sander, J.W. Anderson, Paco Rabanne, Raf Simons, Sacai, Saint Laurent, Simone Rocha, Thom Browne, and Visvim. Prada, which will be available at Dover for the first time, will have a sales area on the top floor. Prada has specially created an updated archive collection. Louis Vuitton is also opening a three-month limited-time store in the event space on the first floor. The fourth floor will also have a corner for young designers, which will also function as an incubation center. Naturally, Rose Bakery, an organic cafe that also has locations in London and Ginza, will also be opening a shop there. It will occupy the first and mezzanine floors. The main interior material used in the Comme des Garçons brand space is wood, and the brand's 2014 Spring/Summer collection will be on display there, ahead of the rest of the world.

To commemorate the opening, Supreme T-shirts and sweatshirts, hoodies, and T-shirts from Mastermind x Black Comme des Garçons x Dover Street Market New York will be on exclusive sale. Long lines formed around the shop on the day. Attention is focused on the future transformation of this area.