184-Year-Old Woolrich Finally Has a New York City Store

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According to the crazy-old clothing company Woolrich, it's better late than never to open up their first U.S. store—and lucky for New Yorkers looking for cozy winter coats, it's right here in Soho, WWD reports.

"We've been talking about bringing our retail concept back home to the U.S. for a long time," executive vice president Joshua Rich told the paper. "The brand has performed very successfully in Europe and Asia over the past few decades, but we've never had a strong retail presence in the U.S. We're moving into SoHo just as the temperature is dropping, so the timing couldn't be better."

Though founded in 1830 on a historic mill in Woolrich, Pennsylvania, the 1,900-square-foot, two-level store at 125 Wooster Street is the first in North America for the outerwear company. It'll operate under the more contemporary Woolrich John Rich & Bros label, designed in partnership with WP Lavori in Italy.

Inside, there's an upper level devoted to the John Rich & Bros. collection, parkas and sportswear for both men and women, plus accessories like wool blankets, hats, and bags, with a new shoe collection to arrive within the month. Store exclusives are also expected to be sold soon, which will be contemporary iterations of archival garments.

Head downstairs and you'll enter a "contemporary men's club," where stock is comprised of special American-made coats, vests, scarves, bags, shirt jackets, blankets and backpacks for men.

Aside from merchandise, the store will also house art exhibitions, including a 2010 Woolrich-commissioned photo series by Douglas Kirkland and works by Italian artist Giacomo Lion.

The NYC flagship is only the beginning for the brand's plans to bring more storefronts to North America: Within the next three years, expect Woolrich outposts in Boston, Seattle, Aspe—and, maybe, Canada—while a Chicago shop is slated to open next week.
· Woolrich Opens First U.S. Store [WWD]
· Woolrich Moving Into Monika Chiang's Old Store in Soho [Racked NY]
· All Now Open posts [Racked NY]