Opening Ceremony, the bi-coastal retail mecca favored by stylish shoppers in New York and Los Angeles, will celebrate the release of the aptly titled Opening Ceremony, a 352-page anthology commemorating the brand’s 10-year anniversary, this weekend.
The iconic company’s founders, Carol Lim and Humberto Leon, will join actor Jason Schwartzman in signing copies of the Rizzoli-published collection at their La Cienega Blvd. store on Saturday between 3 and 5 p.m.
Featuring contributions from visual artists (Ryan McGinley, Terence Koh, Marcel Dzama), designers (Alexander Wang, Rodarte‘s Kate and Laura Mulleavy, Proenza Schouler‘s Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez) and musicians (M.I.A.), the book traces the evolution of the Opening Ceremony brand from its New York inception in 2002 through its expansion and eventual foray into various creative communities.
Personal portraits, ‘zine inserts and even a sticker sheet appear alongside text passages provided by Chloe Sevigny (who released her fifth ready-to-wear capsule in collaboration with the brand in February), boundary-testing photographer Terry Richardson, director Spike Jonze and fashion writers Sally Singer and Eric Wilson.
Lim and Leon, who met while students at U.C. Berkeley, opened their first Opening Ceremony outpost 10 years ago in New York City’s downtown SoHo neighborhood. A Los Angeles location on the edge of West Hollywood followed in 2007, and in 2009, the twosome carried the company overseas to launch an eight-story flagship in Tokyo.
In recent years Opening Ceremony has continued to expand, adding its first European location in London, an in-house clothing line, a television channel and an annual magazine.
The company, known for a series of collaborations with unexpected partners like Pendleton, UNIQLO and the Muppets (yes, those Muppets), recently debuted a Spring Breakers-themed collection of apparel and accessories designed by the film’s costumer, Heidi Bivens.
Saturday, April 6, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m, Opening Ceremony, 451 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 652-1120.
