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The stalled Balenciaga flagship in Soho finally has an opening date—after the fashion house signed a lease back in 2011 and opened a temporary unit on Wooster Street. WWD reports that the women's store at 148 Mercer Street will open on November 22nd, and the men's store across the street at 149 Mercer Street will debut a few days after.
The article explains that Alexander Wang's first task was to come up with a design for the store. He says: "The marble in the store came before the first collection. The retail concept was the first initial project that just had to get under way. We jumped right in and started working on that and then the green was a key color in the first collection along with the marble green motif. The store concept triggered it."
The women's flagship also includes a tremendous skylight, inspired by museums and in particular, the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
· Alexander Wang's Retail Vision for Balenciaga Unveiled [Racked NY]
· Balenciaga Now Aiming For a Fall Opening on Mercer Street [Racked NY]
· Balenciaga Is Now Opening Two Stores on Mercer Street [Racked NY]