Hypebeast Community Center: Komune

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Give us the Komune elevator pitch.

Komune, located in the bustling city of New York, serves as a hub for various designer brands. Our mission is to nurture and promote budding designers and artists. We strive to establish a dynamic marketplace where dialogue and exploration flourish among enthusiasts who appreciate well-considered design.

The Five W’s

Who shops at Komune?

From the outset, it’s become clear that our customer base is more varied than initially thought. Some are devoted followers, while others have discovered us unexpectedly.

What is Komune’s main message?

We strive to give those around us – our brand, team, and clientele – a sense of power. Ideally, we’ll know we’ve achieved our goal when they feel at ease and seen in our environment. Our community is the foundation upon which all our success is built; without them, we would simply be ordinary cloth vendors.

When did you launch Komune?

In September 2023, we organized a temporary event to assess the feasibility of Komune’s ideology, branding, and business strategy. The insights gained from this event were instrumental in securing our initial funding round. This financial backing allowed us to establish a permanent presence at the same location starting from September 2024.

Where are people wearing the brands sold at Komune?

We’re only located on dry ground, since we currently don’t provide swimsuits. Our clientele is exclusively land-based.

Why was Komune created?

We launched Komune due to our initial apprehension towards fashion trends. To combat the often frigid and impersonal experience of retail shopping, we aimed to create a “far-off friend” atmosphere on our social media platforms. By sharing relatable interests and familiar faces consistently, we strive to make our community feel welcoming, fostering a genuine sense of friendship among its members.

Additionally, our goal is to serve as a guiding light in the realm of education regarding fashion. Some individuals might shy away from exploring fashion due to perceived knowledge gaps. However, we firmly believe that fashion should be accessible to all without any prior requirements. Our mission is to offer genuine, enlightening educational resources for everyone’s learning journey.

Is it interesting that your brand’s name sounds like the English word “commune”? Could you share some insights about the meaning and importance behind choosing the name Komune for your company or product?

The name Komune originates from Van Gogh’s dream of an artistic collective, known as a commune, where innovative artists could create and collaborate in a shared environment. Our store endeavors to embody this same spirit—by championing the brands we feature and encouraging others to admire their creations.

Before setting up a physical location, Komune had successfully established a community through social media platforms. Could you elaborate on the importance they place on fostering a brand community and the role of storytelling in their strategy?

Our team thrives on the internet – it’s like our second home. Just as valuable to us are our online community members, who are no less important than our in-person guests. Social media platforms help us extend the longevity of our storytelling, making our actions feel less fleeting. For instance, when we organize a four-day event, by the fourth day it’s often forgotten. However, a YouTube video capturing its journey becomes a digital time capsule, keeping the memory alive long after the event has ended.

 

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A post shared by Komune (@komune.space)

What’s your view on the importance of having a brick-and-mortar store in addition to online sales, rather than relying purely on e-commerce?

In the current retail environment, it’s crucial to stand out. The online fashion marketplace resembles a vast, uniform sales area where most items are widely available across multiple retailers, with minimal exclusive offerings, easy access for purchases, and competition primarily centered on price reductions. This situation benefits larger retailers who can afford early discounting and SEO costs. However, it’s not advantageous for small retailers like ours, with just two sales associates and a team of five in the office. Our unique selling point lies in our physical stores where we can create a distinctive shopping experience that sets us apart from others.

How does Komune, located on the same street as several prominent local designers and up-and-coming independents in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, distinguish itself from other nearby businesses?

Without a doubt, the Local Entrepreneurship Society (LES) has played a crucial role in our development. Just like many other businesses, we are deeply committed to our community. It’s heartening to witness mutual support among us, and it’s essential to acknowledge that we too, actively participate in fostering this communal spirit.

Yet, I’m quite confident that our shop is the sole vendor in Lower East Side (LES) offering Blackmerle products.

 

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A post shared by Komune (@komune.space)

Would Komune ever open any new locations in the future? If so, do you have a dream location?

As a proud resident of Massachusetts, I’d love to host a gaming event there, giving me an opportunity to show off my skills and let my parents check out the local gaming stores! [Alex Tao]

What are some of the team’s key takeaways from 2024? Any goals for 2025?

At first, we were reluctant to delve into detailed ideas due to a general dislike for excessive talking, or “yapping.” However, we came to realize that our audience is surprisingly open to such topics, whether it’s in our content, event inspirations, or reasons for purchasing. In 2025, I look forward to meeting a whole family of Komune enthusiasts.

For those considering exploring unique styles offered by brands at Komune, here’s a word of motivation: Don’t be afraid to step out of your fashion comfort zone! Embrace the opportunity to experiment with unconventional styles and express yourself in fresh, exciting ways.

Start with Blackmerle.

What does fashion mean to Komune?

Our philosophy is that fashion should primarily bring joy to oneself, which we refer to as “Komune for Komune’s Sake (K4K),” a term influenced by the concept of art for art’s sake. While our choices might be spontaneous at times, we trust our customers understand and value authenticity. We choose our brands not because they’re trendy, but because we genuinely like them, even if it’s not the most lucrative approach. What truly satisfies us is following this philosophy consistently.

The community can be found at 92 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10002. Their operating hours are between 12 pm and 7 pm, from Wednesday to Monday. Explore Komune’s carefully selected designers and brands by visiting their online store on the official website.

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2025-01-24 22:56