Lee staged his fall 2021 show in February of that year at 11 Mercer Street in New York, announcing that the raw space would become his first store in America when it opened later that summer. It never happened. Blame the “unforeseen challenges” of renovating a heritage building in New York, but, says Lee, “it’s very much still in the works.” When it does open next year (Lee is being wisely coy about sharing a date), it will have 4,000 square feet of space, making it bigger than the Miami location, which occupies 3,000. Both stores will feature custom furniture with Dion Lee detailing, lifestyle spaces, and room for artist collaborations. Up first in Miami is the Berlin-based artist Oliver Laric. Lee is also unveiling a brand new flagship store in Melbourne later this month.
“When I first opened my stores, I was showing primarily womenswear collections,” says Lee. Much has changed since. “We introduced a men’s capsule, launched our unisex line [Lee doesn’t formally have a menswear collection, rather labeling it as unisex], and expanded into footwear, handbags, and jewelry.” This new wave of spaces is designed to show off the full range of Dion Lee. “With online retailers in the US and a small representation of specialty boutiques and concept stores, you don’t get to see the breadth of the product,” Lee says. “I’m excited to invite people to experience all aspects of the brand, but also to challenge people’s perception of it as well.”