10 Corso Como, Antonia, Sugar and Slam Jam are among the world’s best multi-brand retailers
Business of Fashion has compiled a list of the ‘top 65’: shops in Milan, Arezzo and Ferrara are competing with those in fashion capitals such as New York
Key points
The Business of Fashion (BoF) platform has unveiled its list of the world’s best fashion boutiques, selecting independent retailers (multi-brand stores or concept stores are two other possible terms) that are revitalising the fashion retail sector. From Ven Space in Brooklyn (New York) to Arts & Science in Tokyo and Maison 69 in Cairo, the list comprises 65 independent retailers with 130 shops across 43 cities in 27 countries. The number of shops is higher than the number of names listed because some have opened branches in cities other than the one where they were founded. There were nearly 300 initial entries, later whittled down to the final list of 65, divided into three distinct categories according to BoF’s rating system: One-of-a-kind, Must-visit and Must-know.
Strategic player
According to BoF, independent boutiques are an increasingly vital part of the fashion ecosystem, as they offer an antidote to the monotony of online shopping and foster communities of loyal customers. Whilst the industry’s biggest brands have redoubled their efforts in direct online and offline distribution (through flagship stores or DTC, direct-to-consumer channels), many shoppers are looking for something more human, something more unique: independent shops, where they can buy items from different brands and experience what many consider to be the magic of walking into a shop and walking out with an unexpected item or experience. Whilst powerful department store chains (such as Saks in the United States) have struggled to adapt to an ever-changing market, the world’s finest independent shops have quietly become an increasingly vital part of the fashion ecosystem.
Scouting for emerging talent
Regarded as the unsung heroes of the fashion ecosystem, they play a vital role in promoting emerging designers, building communities of loyal customers and offering in-store shopping experiences that cannot be replicated online. From a commercial perspective, they provide a source of revenue and a marketing channel for independent brands operating in a competitive market, as Italia has been doing for years. href="https://www.camerabuyer.it">Camera dei Buyer has been advocating for years in Italia; it is currently led by Maura Basili and brings together around 90 members with 500 retail outlets in Italia and around the world.
What the guide reveals about the state of the high street
The Business of Fashion guide highlights the collective strengths of the selected retailers and how they manage to remain relevant to consumers in a challenging environment. The world’s best independent fashion shops are surprisingly young: almost 70 per cent have opened their doors for the first time in the last 20 years. The map of independent retail in the fashion sector is truly global. The United States accounts for the largest number of retailers on the list (17), reflecting the scale and dynamism of its market. Japan, another magnet for top retailers, is represented by six shops, underlining its enduring influence on retail culture. Some of the most interesting boutiques are located outside the major fashion capitals. Shops such as Alára in Lagos, Ensemble in Mumbai, Boutique N in Kuwait City and Maison 69 in Cairo demonstrate the viability of concepts that extend far beyond Western fashion capitals such as New York, Paris, Milan and London. Size is not synonymous with influence. Some retailers operate multi-storey flagship stores in major cities; others are single shops in residential neighbourhoods or in unexpected locations. What unites them is not their size, but their creative conviction.
The full list
The shops that are redefining the future of fashion are:• 10 Corso Como, Milan• A Ma Manière, Atlanta• A’maree’s, Newport Beach• Aby Concept, Abidjan• Absolutely Fabrics, Toronto• Agora Ibiza, Ibiza• Alara, Lagos• Andreas Murkudis, Berlin• Antonia, Milan• APOC Store, London• Arts & Science, Tokyo• B1OCK, Hangzhou• Beige Habilleur, Paris• Biotop, Tokyo• Boon the Shop, Seoul• Boutique N, Kuwait City• Boygar’s, Tbilisi• ByGeorge, Austin• C’H’C’M’, New York• Capitol, Charlotte• Darklands, Berlin• Departamento, Los Angeles• Dongliang, Beijing• Dover Street Market, London• Ekseption, Madrid• Elysewalker, Pacific Palisades• ENG, Shanghai• Ensemble, Mumbai• GR8, Tokyo• Hirshleifers, Manhasset• IKAL, Mexico City• Ikram, Chicago• Joyce, Hong Kong• Solo un occhio, Los Angeles• Kirna Zabete, New York• L’Éclaireur, Paris• La Garçonne, New York• Labelhood, Shanghai• Le Mill, Mumbai• Machine-A, London• Fanciulle, Tokyo• Maison 69, Cairo• Maxfield, Los Angeles• McMullen, Oakland, San Francisco• Mohawk General Store, Los Angeles• Mouki Mou, London• Vicino, Vancouver• Nitty Gritty, Stockholm• NK, São Paulo• Salone X, Sydney• Restir, Tokyo• Pista, Ho Chi Minh City• Slam Jam, Ferrara• Smets, Luxembourg• SND, Chongqing• San Dom, Cartagena• Sugar, Arezzo• Tasoni, Zurich• Tempio Musa, Lagos• IL Broken Arm, Paris• The Tokyo, Tokyo• The Webster, Miami• Ven. Space, New York• Words, Sounds, Colours and Shapes, Paris• Working Title, São Paulo
