Hello jewelry enthusiasts! We meet again this spring with yet another concept store that stocks some amazing jewelry designers. Our new favorite place in London this season is Dover Street Market, popularly known as DSM.
This ground-breaking retail space, conceived by Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons, celebrated its 12th birthday last March. The original store was opened in September 2004 in Mayfair. Currently, DSM has a presence in London, Ginza (Tokyo) and New York with a franchise operation in China - I.T Beijing Market.
“I want to create a kind of market where various creators from various fields gather together and encounter each other in an on-going atmosphere of beautiful chaos; the mixing up and coming together of different kindred souls who all share a strong personal vision,” Rei Kawakubo said.
How does the DSM team go about selecting designers and brands for their jewelry retail space?
“A lot of what we chose – and we still do this – is by gut instinct, and it was a little bit like opening Pandora’s box,” said Dickon Bowden, Vice-President of Dover Street Market. Thus, DSM found “this whole other world of amazing designers who didn’t really have anywhere to present their work.”
“People are challenged when they come, and ultimately find things. The sole criterion is that the design has something to say. People come here to find something exceptional.” Which is why DSM presents the brands in “a simple yet visually interesting way within an informal environment that encourages discovery.” The jewelry customer is a bit like any Dover Street customer really, in that there isn’t a typical one, observed Mr. Bowden.
To look up more jewelry designs, visit the store’s website – london.doverstreetmarket.com
View the photo gallery!
Smitha Sadanandan
