They landed on bringing brands—both big and small—on board in line with Barneys’s core values of mixing well-known names with new discoveries. Fashion-wise, the likes of Marc Jacobs, Thom Browne, Christopher John Rogers, and Khaite will mix with beauty newbies that Janes feels are the brands of the future: Reome, Perfumehead, and AKT, with more to be announced as the opening date approaches in just under two weeks.
For Gilhart, this mix of both established and emerging talent was vital: “Barneys was an exciting place where a new brand could get its start. I’m grateful to Hourglass for remembering how they began at Barneys 20 years ago, and now celebrating the many different types of energic talent found in the fabric of New York City”.
Opening in the heart of SoHo downtown (“Barneys started downtown,” Janes is keen to note of the original Chelsea location before the flagship on Madison Ave became its focal point), and kicking off New York Fashion Week on 5 September, it will be open for five weeks, with a program of events and activations making for memorable experiential moments. “We really want people to come on a journey with us and have a little bit of fun, a little bit of theatre, as well as seeing interesting products and discovering brands they’ve never heard of,” adds Janes.
And while the exact program of events is still in development, Hourglass will have a beauty bar in the heart of the space, where you can shop some of their cult classics, like the Vanish Airbrush Concealer, Veil Hydrating Skin Tint, Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm, or Unreal Liquid Blush, alongside some new limited-edition products. Think: an illustrated version of the brand’s cult Ambient Light Powder, that features designs from Na Kim, the artist who worked on Barneys’ coffee table books.
“The whole idea behind this project is really honoring and celebrating where we came from, and then passing the baton to the next generation,” concludes Janes. “We feel strongly that Barneys helped us and now, let’s pay it forward. It’s time.”
The Barneys New York and Hourglass pop-up store is open between 5 September and 11 October 2024 on 14 Prince Street (at the corner of Prince Street and Elizabeth Street in SoHo).
