WWD’s editors hit the streets to find emerging, hip retail areas in the world’s capitals of cool.
Paris
Paris’ Haut-Marais district, around and northward of Rue de Bretagne, is percolating with small food shops, cozy restaurants and art galleries. But it’s also increasingly becoming a magnet for fashion labels, including Wooyoungmi and Cheap Monday. Beauty brands are starting to colonize the area, too, including Dermance, a French beauty brand targeting women age 45 and older.
New York
Bond Street between Broadway and the Bowery, a mere two blocks in NoHo, is known for its eclectic mix of retail and restaurants. Bond 07 by Selima and Bond No. 9 fragrances were early adoptors. More recently, the likes of Billy Reid men’s and women’s apparel and Oak, a multibrand clothing store, have moved in.
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Seoul
Hannam-dong is still in its growth stage compared to the megapopular Garosu-gil, but it has a more cosmopolitan vibe complete with local designer boutiques and international restaurants. Foot traffic hasn’t reached the levels of Garosu-gil, but the area is increasingly popular among locals who are tired of its “commercialization.”
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London
André Balazs’ hotel and restaurant Chiltern Firehouse created a major buzz when it opened on Chiltern Street earlier this year, quickly becoming a magnet for a steady stream of bold-faced guests. Now fashion labels are taking a closer look, including Prism, the eyewear and resortwear label; Mouki Mou, a concept store that carries under-the-radar fashion labels and beauty products, and Monocle magazine’s café.
New Delhi
Although Meher Chand Market in the heart of central Delhi doesn’t have a huge retail infrastructure to build upon, designer stores and high-end restaurants are quickly opening, creating an entirely new market space. Located near Khan Market, where exorbitant rents are forcing retailers to think twice about their location, and also close to affluent South Delhi neighborhoods, the market is attracting organic food stores, clothing retailers like Fab India and the bookshop CMYK.
Tokyo
One of the more laid-back neighborhoods of Tokyo compared to frenetic Shibuya or Shinjuku, Daikanyama is a popular spot for locals and tourists. The narrow streets are lined with cafés, pastry shops and plenty of boutiques, like A.P.C., Saturdays Surf and trendy multibrand retailer Loveless. A massive Tsutaya bookstore (which won an award at the 2012 World Architecture Festival) anchors the area. In November, Tenoha Daikanyama, featuring a furniture store, a restaurant and office space, opened its doors.