Friends and neighbors were out in full force to toast Louis Vuitton’s completely redesigned SoHo boutique Thursday night.
The 10,000-square foot two-level store, at 116 Greene Street, was designed in a modern, streamlined and minimalist fashion to resemble an art gallery, with high ceilings, hand-painted columns and artwork prominently displayed throughout the store.
“When we were creating this art, the store was blocked off, so I’m happy it’s breathing inside this space,” said Japanese artist Shuji Mukai, who was commissioned to hand-paint the three columns, part of the floor and the ceiling. Speaking through an interpreter, Mukai said he always paints in black and white, but because it was Vuitton, he opted for dark brown and white. “It took one week to finish this art. I was always looking up. It’s almost overwhelming to see this huge space,” he said.
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Marino, who is the store’s designer, said the hardest part was renovating the store while it remained open. It was done in two phases, closing off one half at a time. “It was a nightmare, it was really challenging,” he said. Marino said he was extremely happy with how it turned out, especially the fact that he was able to add lightness to Vuitton. “The luggage is practically floating in space,” he said, pointing to the carbon fibers he used. The products previously were displayed in boxes or wood cabinets. “I’m proud of the thinness and lightness,” he said.
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The SoHo boutique carries the full range of Vuitton products including men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, leather goods, shoes, accessories, watches, jewelry and fragrance. Vuitton’s Objets Nomades collection of travel-inspired furniture and home accessories were on display and available for purchase. Guests hung out enjoying cocktails and hors d’oeuvres throughout the store, including downstairs, which has a clubby feel and is totally devoted to men’s wear and accessories.
Friends from the neighborhood and further afield came by to see the store, including Deirdre Quinn, chief executive officer of Lafayette 148, and John Gutleber, president and ceo of Americana Manhasset (Marino’s first client), which has numerous stores in its Long Island shopping complex designed by Marino, such as Chanel, Dior, Hermès and Hirshleifers.
“It’s a great vibe,” said Gutleber’s wife, Fran, referring to Vuitton’s SoHo store. “It really feels like an art gallery.”
Marino’s daughter, Isabelle, was mingling in the crowd sporting a “Capucine Skyline,” ($6,500) which was created by Vuitton’s artisans to commemorate the store’s renovation. It’s a limited-edition handbag only available in SoHo. Ten were made, and only two are left, said Marino.
Others in the crowd included Max Vadukul and Nicoletta Santoro, Hannah Bronfman and Brendan Fallis, Dorian Grinspan, Tenzin Wild, Teyana Taylor, Marcel Floruss of One Dapper Street and Alice Gao.