During the last couple of years our world has changed significantly....and the priorities of our customers has changed as well. Designer District represents a new way of thinking on how we look at 'style' and what we're all willing to give up in order to achieve it. The way we see it, we don't really see ourselves to be exclusively in the fashion business....we see ourselves as being primarily in the style business. To us, 'fashion' falls flat without a true sense of style, and our mission is to help find it within each of our customers. We don't just sell clothing lines...we discover, wear and believe in them first.
The genesis of our specialty store concept reflects cleaner, more refined choices in the lines we choose, and a large part of our job is to pick up not only on style trends themsleves, but to study the attitudes and perspectives of our cutomers that drive them. Call us people watchers but that's a large part of what we do. We're just as fascinated at what you like to wear, as what's behind the curtain that makes you wear it.
In order to be responsive to our customers, we've taken the approach to offer more of what we see as the new direction in the style & people business. Our approach is simply to offer fresh choices of new lines more often, and enhancing a greater sense of value that our customers have been striving for in their shopping experience, but has been lacking to large degree under one roof.
We don't just passively sell clothes...but we also design them. During the roll out of our newly branded stores starting in April, we've introduced a line of premium art house specialty tees for women & men called 'Art House', which are made from the highest grade Pima cotton. This line represents our participation in the production side of the industry, which in large part is what makes us more unique in what we do. In October, you'll also see a new line of fine men's sportswear shirts made in Naples, Italy that can be worn conservatively with a suit or sportcoat, or casually with rolled up sleeves showing subtle design elements that works in nicely when paired with a favotite pair of jeans. This is what you really get when shopping with us...a deep knowledge of apparel backed up with quality of goods.
While not ignoring the classic tried and true brands we all respect, it's our purpose to also offer a greater sense of discovery and sit them next to incredibly capable and exclusive lines from around the world that greatly deserve an audience in our home market in Phoenix. To do this effectively, we have to always be on the move and evolve in what we offer.
Above all else one thing is most certain....at Designer District we won't impose upon you to make a choice that's not a reflection of who you are what you want to represent. It's our job to walk you out of our space not with a sense of dread, but with a sense of accomplishment.
In the spirit of the part of the apparel business we represent, our store aesthetic reflects a fresh, minimalist feel, yet maintains a rough-around-the-edges look with an artistic, vintage bent. Descriptions of our stores range from 'Industrial Chic' to 'Soho Loft', and each store is comprised of a slightly different personality based on the neighborhood it resides in. They tend to reflect a feeling of open space and are merchandised much like what you would see in any well thought out showroom in any given downtown fashion district.
Regardless of how far or large we grow, our purpose is to always maintain a strong spirit of community and to always feel like a local business that caters to it's local clientelle. If we lose this and ever get too big for our premium proverbial britches, or turn our noses up so high they block sunlight...we lose the soul of our business. We strive to always remind ourselves of who we're most loyal to....you, and your choice of spending your hard earned currency with us in the pursuit of the never ending pursuit of style.
See you 'round the corner...
Kurt BlaydornFounder / Designer District
April 2010