California Apparel News

East Coast – get ready. Skingraft is opening a boutique in New York. Skingraft, which is known for its edgy leather pieces and cool urban vibe, will fete the Nolita store opening next Tuesday with a 3-D film showcasing its Spring/Summer collection. “We’ve been really fortunate the last year so we’re excited to evolve the brand and take it to the next level,” said designer Jonny Cota.

The 500 square foot store, located at 7 Prince Street, will house Skingraft's womenswear and menswear collections. It also will include special samples, accessories and limited run items. Cota and his brother and Brand Manager, Chris Cota, chose the Nolita location because it includes many independent designers and is close to the Bowery and Soho - two different areas that contain the ideal Skingraft customer.

The New York boutique has been on the Skingraft agenda for some time and is the next step in the brand’s expansion plan. Skingraft, which took a season off the runway in LA, plans to further expand into a lifestyle collection. It added shoes for Spring and will create sunglasses and jewelry for Spring ‘14. The brand will also show on the runway at New York Fashion Week in September.

Skingraft, whose following includes celebrities such as Nicki Minaj, Missy Elliot and Adam Lambert, received LOGO’s NewNowNext Fashion Honor for Men’s Designer of the Year in February during NYFW. “It felt like a really good welcoming omen - like New York’s ready for you,” said Cota. He added that the Skingraft team always gets a lot of attention when visiting New York “whether its on the street or at trade shows or out and about at night.”

The designer said he is excited to see what customers the New York store will draw and what identity the New York store will take on. “The LA store has an identity. It has a certain clientele. We’re at a certain location and that affects who shops here,” said Cota. No doubt Skingraft’s New York customer will be fashion forward with a penchant for leather and the brand’s edgy aesthetic. Expect Cota’s Fall collection chalk full of rock n’ roll grunge - including flannels, knitwear, crochet, fur, leather and suede - to soon line its walls. “It’s all very Skingraft, but it’s kind of like Gothic urban meets rock n’ roll,” said Cota.