News Summary
Detroit’s fashion landscape is transforming with significant luxury retail openings and a growing resale market. Local ventures like The Collection by Abimbola Fernandez showcase the city’s potential as a new fashion hub, featuring luxury vintage and couture. With prestigious brands like Gucci and Greyson Clothiers entering the market, Detroit is evolving into a vibrant fashion ecosystem. The city’s unique identity and resilience are at the forefront, promising exciting opportunities for designers and shoppers amidst economic considerations.
Detroit’s Fashion Scene Flourishes with Luxury Retail Openings and Resale Ventures
Detroit is experiencing a remarkable transformation in its fashion landscape, with significant openings in the luxury retail sector and a burgeoning resale market. Local ventures, including The Collection by Abimbola Fernandez and the recent arrival of prominent luxury brands, are spotlighting the city’s potential as a new fashion hub.
Founded in 2015 by Detroit resident Abimbola Fernandez, The Collection is a resale company that specializes in luxury vintage and legacy couture. After inheriting over 2,000 garments from her mother, Chief Aduke O. Fernandez, the baroness of Dudley, England, Fernandez set out to create a platform that honors her mother’s legacy. The Collection’s first sale featured 700 items, with part of the proceeds dedicated to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, in memory of her mother, who passed away from colon cancer.
Currently, a curated capsule of legacy couture from her mother’s wardrobe is on display at Robyn, a retail space in Midtown Detroit, and will be available until the end of May. The collection includes standout pieces such as a Givenchy Life Micro Diamond Wool skirt suit from the 1990s priced at $600, a Chanel Creme Trouser from the early 2000s available for $500, and a Dolce & Gabbana Grey Cashmere trouser at $300. Additional items like a Versace x Rosenthal Crystal Medusa Ashtray ($425) and Ferragamo Bow Ballet Flats ($250) are also offered.
Fernandez relocated to Detroit from Los Angeles in late 2022 to undergo a personal reset following the loss of her parents. She believes Detroit represents resilience and a unique fashion identity. Fernandez actively shares her experiences related to grief and identity through the Amazon Prime series African Royale.
In addition to The Collection, Detroit’s luxury retail scene is experiencing considerable growth. Greyson Clothiers, a luxury clothing retailer focused on golf and lifestyle apparel, is set to open a store in downtown Grand Rapids this month in the Peck Building. This location will feature a customized shopping experience, including a “custom shop” for hats and other apparel that caters to individual consumer preferences.
Luxury brand Gucci has also made headlines by opening a new store on Library Street in downtown Detroit on August 19, becoming one of the first global luxury brands to establish a presence in the area. Gucci’s store is its second location in Michigan, with the first situated in the upscale Somerset Collection mall in Troy.
Additionally, McMullen luxury boutique is launching a six-month pop-up shop on Woodward St. in Detroit starting September 16, focusing on Black designers and their contributions to the fashion industry. This is part of a broader trend, as other high-end retailers, including Hermès, Aritzia, and Xhibition, have opened new locations in the city.
Despite these positive developments, Detroit’s median household income remains significantly lower than that of surrounding suburbs, prompting questions regarding the sustainability of high-end retail operations in the city. Nevertheless, local designers and retailers are optimistic, noting a growing appetite for luxury fashion that reflects the city’s distinctive style and cultural diversity.
Traditionally, Detroit has lacked a prominent luxury shopping corridor, but its current resurgence signifies a shift towards a more vibrant fashion ecosystem. To capitalize on this momentum, larger luxury brands are encouraged to actively support local design education and deepen their engagement with Detroit’s community, further nurturing the development of the city’s fashion industry.
As the luxury landscape continues to evolve, Detroit stands at a crossroads where tradition meets innovation, promising both challenges and exciting opportunities for aspiring fashion designers and shoppers alike.
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Additional Resources
- MLive: New Luxury Clothing Retailer Coming to Downtown Grand Rapids
- Wikipedia: Fashion in the United States
- Detroit Free Press: Jaguar Reveals the Future of Its Brand
- Google Search: Luxury Fashion Detroit
- Detroit News: Return of Luxury Fashion in Detroit
- Google Scholar: Luxury Retail Detroit
- Hour Detroit: Additions to Metro Detroit Shopping Scene
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Luxury Goods
- Detroit Is It: Gucci Makes Fashion History in Detroit
- Google News: Detroit Fashion
