This Seattle-based multi-brand boutique, which opened its first New York location on Crosby Street in 2015, recently relocated nearby to the former Germania Bank Building, at 190 Bowery. In doing so, the store sees itself as building upon the artistic tradition set by the space’s former occupants, among them photographer Jay Maisel, who was the owner until a few years ago, as well as artists Roy Lichtenstein and Keith Haring, who, with Maisel’s permission, used part of the building as a workspace. Totokaelo has left most of the interior and exterior untouched; shoes are displayed inside a large bank vault, and the graffiti outside hasn’t been removed. Interactive, brand-oriented installations are typical here. Totokaelo’s inventory has always struck a moody, poetic note, so expect to find items from Ann Demeulemeester, Maison Margiela, Comme des Garçons, Junya Watanabe, and Yohji Yamamoto (among a smattering of hard-to-pronounce, off-the-radar brands).
Totokaelo
Images by Totokaelo
