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Ganni may just be the most recognizable Copenhagen-based fashion brand. Run by husband-and-wife team Ditte Reffstrup and Nicolaj Reffstrup since 2009, the label has swiftly made leopard print frocks, chunky sweaters in unconventional colors, and cool styling with faded T-shirts into a specific look that nearly everyone now covets.
As such, Ganni has developed a major fan base in New York. Which is why, on a quiet SoHo corner in New York City, the brand just opened its first New York store, developed by Stamuli Architecture (along with an L.A. location that opened simultaneously, and a Miami location to come later this year). Trust us: The design is just as good as the colorfully inspiring clothing. “It feels like everything we’ve done from the beginning happened in a very organic, natural way,” says Ditte, from the new boutique. “This store has been a big thing we’ve been dreaming about.” Read on for five design tips we’d steal directly from Ganni’s New York location.
A major statement of the store is the rainbow-spotted podiums throughout. In all different sizes, they serve as storage and displays for everything from clothing to shoes. Each panel of the podium is made of recycled plastics—from yogurt packaging to water bottles and even chopping boards. Take inspiration from the eclectic look and use you own (preferably sustainable) stands of all different sizes to house different things you’d like to show off (books! shoes! vinyl!).
Ganni’s store has not just one colorful wall but many. With large windows on all sides of the store, the pink, yellow, and baby blue walls make the sunlit space really shine. When painting your wall, don’t be afraid to mix it up and choose more than one color for each side of the room. Look to the color wheel and pick a whole array.
For the dressing room, Ditte and Nicolaj wanted something different. So they turned to their friend, Serbian photographer Ana Kraš. Ana took photos of scenes around Copenhagen (think: angelic statues lit by the night sky, bicycles, and building façades), which were then collaged on the colorful walls in the form of a custom wallpaper. Whether it’s for a small space or placed on a larger wall for a more dramatic look, why not create your own wallpaper with photos? Services such as Photowall make the process easy.
Ditte wanted the store to feel like a Scandinavian home, and the cluttered-but-in-a-good-way lamps that line the ceiling certainly convey a sense of homeyness. The store proves that it’s okay to have as many light fixtures as you want, rather than say, a sole chandelier. Ganni mixed sculptural white lights from Le Klint with striped options by Ana Kraš for Hay.
Beyond the podiums, Ganni’s commitment to upcycling can be seen throughout the store. Take a cue from the stylish Scandis and mix one-of-a-kind used furniture. Ganni has old-school chairs from Copenhagen throughout the space, sourced by Artek. The textural rugs are also made out of Ganni fabrics from past collections, and the colorful couch is made with Kvadrat textiles, which are often deadstock.
