Darr, New York
During our trip to New York City last month we visited this amazing Brooklyn-based store called Darr. The spot on combination and great curation of vintage and new objects, clothing and accessories amazed us profoundly. Co-owners Hicham Benmira, a Casablanca-born former Takashimaya personal shopper, and former video editor Brian Cousins excel in collecting products out of the broadest of spectrums. They cull objects industrial and romantic, rustic and sophisticated, ancient and modern, yet everything fits together perfectly.
The furniture and house decoration focused Darr means home in Arabic and for the fashion orientated Hollander & Lexer, Bemira and Cousins wanted the name to have a stately sentiment and ended up giving the store the names of two plastic surgeons from the early 1900s who were embedded in the First World War.
The selection sold at Hollander & Lexer is by brands like Rag & Bone, Robert Geller, Oliver Spencer, Engineered Garments and Steven Alan. But Benmira and Cousins have also worked with local artisans and tailors to create their own products that are only available at their store and in very select stores in Japan and Britain. Other products one can find are; uncommon leather goods, vintage Roman rings, and Santa Maria Novella bath products. However not only the products please the eye, the environment they are sold in is a marvellous, unique place as well.
The collection of Darr consists of both handmade goods and rare finds, all eye pleasing pieces, inspired by a natural and fibrous theme.
When in New York City make sure to visit these great stores at 358 and 369 Atlantic Ave in Brooklyn!