Outerknown, the sustainable clothing brand, co-founded by pro surfer Kelly Slater, reported plans to open four brick-and-mortar retail stores, bringing the total operating store count to nine. The stores opening this fall include Marin, CA; Carlsbad, CA; and Palo Alto, CA, with a storefront in Georgetown, DC, scheduled to open in spring 2014.
The apparel brand operates three stores in California—Malibu, El Segundo and Lemoore—a storefront on Newberry Steet in Boston and one in Soho, New York City.
In partnership with experiential design agency Starch Creative, each space will share connections to the company’s ethos. Features include Stelapop hangers and fixtures made from S.E.A. denim scraps, Pasqual Arnella sustainable paper paste mannequins, Yorks reclaimed flooring made from submerged hemlock logs from Nova Scotia, reclaimed maritime rope art installations by environmental scientist and artist Ethan Estess, and Sonos Pro retail sound. Each store will also offer a customization station where customers can add embroidery to products prior to purchasing.
“These new retail spaces are a true celebration of community,” noted Slater. “Many of these spots are places I love to visit and feel personally connected to. These locations also represent the work that many of my friends are doing to clean up the ocean and planet, like YORK reclaimed floors and Ethan Estess. Good planets are hard to find, and at Outerknown, we are working tirelessly to protect the one we’ve got. That takes getting everyone onboard.”
“In looking at locations for this next iteration of Outerknown’s retail presence, we really sought to open our doors in places where there are folks who believe in what the brand stands for—a commitment to responsible business, courageous change and great clothing,” notes John Moore, co-founder and chief creative at Outerknown. “I can’t wait for our friends and customers to experience the level of detail and environmental consideration that went into each of these new spaces. We are very proud.”
“Outerknown’s expansion in retail has been strategically developed with a systems-minded approach that allows us to maximize the utility of each space and bring a unique brand essence to every location,” said Kelso Davis, senior creative director at Starch Creative. “Outerknown’s mission and values are reflected in every decision we make. From the innovative materials that turn apparel production scraps into build materials to the build quality and nuanced detail in every aspect of the fixture system, these new retail stores are a testament to the brand’s commitment to fostering a symbiotic relationship between its product, spaces, and core values.”
Photo courtesy Outerknown
