SSENSE Opens An Innovative Retail Space
45.5017° N, 73.5673° W"A space for appointments, events, projects, and conversations. An invitation to look, feel, and interact"
Online retailer SSENSE is set to open the doors to its first multi-level space in its hometown of Montreal. Located at 418 Rue Saint Sulpice, the five-storey building was built in the 19th century and is walking distance to the city’s iconic Notre-Dame Basilica. The interior was designed by the world-renowned David Chipperfield Architects, which features in-situ concrete structure (a building-within-a-building). This was done to preserve the historic elements of the building, while invoking a sense of futurism.
Rather than to offer a traditional shopping experience, SSENSE has used this opportunity to implement a new system. Instead of stocking the space with clothing, footwear, and accessories, clients can handpick their selections online and it will be delivered to the store. The shopping assistants would then take the clothing and lay it out for the clients when they arrive. At the top floor, sits a cafe that is headed by restaurateurs, Jason Morris and Kabir Kapoor – the brilliant minds behind Le Fantome. The menu will feature market fresh ingredients that will change monthly.
Besides functioning as a retail space and cafe, SSENSE hopes to build a community for the fashion forward and the creative minds. This is exemplified by future original projects from Virgil Abloh, Moncler, Wales Bonner, DIS, Berlin Community Radio, Heron Preston, Kwaidan Editions, Vejas Kruszewski, and Amnesia Scanner. When launched, these exhibitions will be on display for the public.
The doors open tomorrow, May 3rd.
418 Rue Saint-Sulpice
Montréal, Quebéc
H2Y 2V5
Canada
Words: Jon Carlo Tapia
