Danse Lente, which means “slow dance” in French, follows a string of shops (Aries, The Shop at the Bluebird) towards Covent Garden. Its month-long residence on Long Acre will welcome the curious crowds exploring the area’s major regeneration, but for founder Youngwon Kim, it was a natural choice to set up camp there. “I simply liked Covent Garden because of its historical significance and its warm ambience,” she told Vogue ahead of the June 8 launch.
The London-based designer, who works with craftsmen, tanners and metalsmiths in the capital, looked to Spain for interiors inspiration. “The décor is inspired by the dwelling of a Spanish sculptor called Xavier Corbero,” she explained. “Most of the artists that I admire are from the Mediterranean region, where the warm weather influences their work. The Danse Lente store décor is created in this line of thought.”
Success came quickly to the brand, which Kim launched two years after graduating from the London College of Fashion in 2013 with an MA in footwear. Her debut collection was pre-launched through Net-a-Porter, with Selfridges quickly following suit, and Moda Operandi, Le Bon Marche and Lane Crawford jumping on board after the success of the first line.
“There are definitely conflicts of running a business and staying creative at the same time,” Kim noted of her steep learning curve. Maintaining an accessible price point is a key priority, and each bag is a balancing act of “simplifying details without compromising the character of the design.”
When in doubt, she looks to Picasso, Brancusi, Memphis Group and Bauhaus – “They are visually very simple, but have a strong, timeless impact” – and the cities she travels to for light relief and inspiration. For now though, 25 Long Acre is holding her attention. Visit the pop-up before July 12 to see inside Kim's world for yourself.
Success came quickly to the brand, which Kim launched two years after graduating from the London College of Fashion in 2013 with an MA in footwear. Her debut collection was pre-launched through Net-a-Porter, with Selfridges quickly following suit, and Moda Operandi, Le Bon Marche and Lane Crawford jumping on board after the success of the first line.
“There are definitely conflicts of running a business and staying creative at the same time,” Kim noted of her steep learning curve. Maintaining an accessible price point is a key priority, and each bag is a balancing act of “simplifying details without compromising the character of the design.”
When in doubt, she looks to Picasso, Brancusi, Memphis Group and Bauhaus – “They are visually very simple, but have a strong, timeless impact” – and the cities she travels to for light relief and inspiration. For now though, 25 Long Acre is holding her attention. Visit the pop-up before July 12 to see inside Kim's world for yourself.
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