Cara Cara, the advanced contemporary apparel brand, has opened a pop-up on the Upper East Side at 1265 Madison Avenue.
The shop, which measures 630 square feet, is the company’s first long-term pop-up, having operated a one-week pop-up in Nantucket, Mass., in August of 2023.
Cara Cara was founded in 2019 by Julia Brown, Katie Hobbs and Sasha Martin. Each woman had their own successful career previously — Brown in fashion design, Hobbs in digital media and e-commerce, and Martin in finance and marketing.
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The brand specializes in feminine dresses, tops, pants and skirts, often in vivid colors and original prints. The company started out as a small collection of printed cotton poplin dresses and has evolved into a complete collection that includes ready-to-wear, knits, tailoring, evening, and outerwear.
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The spring collection starts at $245 and goes to $995.
The pop-up, which opened Friday, highlights Cara Cara’s complete spring and upcoming summer ready-to-wear collection, with the latter set to arrive later this month and into May. There will also be several pieces exclusive to the store and the New York City market. In addition, the store will carry a small little girls capsule with the spring collection for mommy-and-me dressing.
According to the cofounders, Cara Cara’s business is split 60/40 between wholesale and direct-to-consumer. The women’s brand is carried by such retailers as Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale’s, Shopbop, Revolve, Net-a-porter and Moda Operandi as well as a network of top specialty stores nationwide.
To bring the decor to life, Brown hired her longtime friend and interior decorator Darren Henault, who is known for drawing inspiration from interiors and vintage textiles. The Cara Cara team worked closely with Henault to reflect the spirit of the collection from antique rugs, colorful Murano glass, ceramic urns and his own bespoke Georgian teak chaise and lounge. A vintage hand-painted screen anchors the dressing room, which was designed with selfies in mind. The design is a blueprint for future permanent spaces, according to the founders. The antiques, objects and custom furniture from Henault’s upstate store, Tent, are all for sale at Cara Cara.
The pop-up, which is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m to 5 p.m., will be open through mid-June.
Cara Cara plans to collaborate with a selection of brands across swimwear, hats, jewelry and accessories. “The initiative is designed to introduce labels that currently lack a presence in the Carnegie Hill neighborhood, bringing a curated mix of fresh finds to the boutique,” said cofounder Hobbs, who is chief marketing officer.
In addition, the owners plan to host a series of charity shopping events supporting various causes such as the Carnegie Hill Neighbors Association, a nod to cofounder Martin’s deep roots in the community, where she was raised and now resides with her family.