Conceptual Curation, Benthos World— Archival Showroom Stories
The hidden showroom of Benthos World transforms the meaning of vintage concept stores. As a result of newfound sense for a more curated and meaningful wardrobe, the Lower East Side has become the neighborhood of concept stores and showrooms. These storefronts presents a shopping experience that serves as an atmospheric experience to further translate the carefully curated inventory. A specific mood can be catered towards a particular target audience, forming community. Some stores bring in upcoming designers to showcase a line of clothing, while others curate vintage designer brands— enhancing tranquil storytelling.
Among Orchard Street’s plethora of showrooms, Benthos World sits within the transitional area of Chinatown. The location welcomes customers to the store’s identity— a romance of urbanism and weary elegance. The four flights of stairs takes you into an elevated portal. Low-lit walls dressed in graffiti met the showroom door, greeting you with their signature scent. A firm color palette is established within the racks of clothes, editorials, contemporary decor, and multimedia marketing. A condensed color palette is reflected in the space. Their social media page and website establishes the cool-toned blues and whites that brings focus to textures. Benthos’ showroom is a space that mutes the polluted noise. An atmosphere of serenity that is stylized through the inventory— from sport-tailored Prada to pony-hair Isabel Marants.
The selection of designer pieces are curated by Benthos’ New York-based art director Amy Xu. Notably satisfying, each rack was organized by color temperature. Warmer browns and reds are separated from their larger selection of cooler shades. Benthos focuses on European and Asian designer brands that could be pulled from any rack. Archives of sporty Miu Miu are met with contemporary Junya Watanabe. Boots by ZUCCA sat next to pumps by Prada. The showrooms’ selection of shoes lays under various textiles. Silhouettes of imagination will keep anyone browsing the entire showroom, but it doesn’t stop at clothes. An impressive collection of editorial prints and magazines pushes the Benthos narrative. Placed with careful gloves, the Prada Archive 1998 by Norbert Schoerner is offered for viewing.
Specifically this editorial book reads the room and the showrooms marketing. Their Martin Margiela flip book placed next to a bejeweled Tsumori Chisato wallet pushes you into a shopping experience that is seemingly admirable. Accessories by local hardware artists and vintage designer eyewear mixes perfectly. Hats by Isabel Marant and Yohji Yamamoto’s Ys lures you towards their physical, visual photography. Their baby blue Prada jacket styled to be featured on plastered acrylic.
Every careful choice of inventory and display is easily digestible. Maintaining the intimacy of shopping in-person, Benthos’ inventory can only be purchased within their physical store or pop ups. Valuing the experience of a conceptual space is an art medium of itself. The scene of feminine archival collectors can look forward to Benthos to enjoy atmosphere and contemporary concepts. While the Lower East Side brings in a good crowd of the archival audiences, Benthos World stands as Manhattan’s most promising vintage store.
Designers
Atsuro Tayama
Comme des Garçons
Diesel
Dior
DSQUARED2
Hussein Chalayan
Isabel Marant
Issey Miyake
Jean Paul Gaultier
Junya Watanabe
Jil Sander
Miu Miu
Prada
sacai
Zucca
Visit Benthos.World to book a private appointment or store hours, Thursday to Sunday, 12-7 PM.