The phrase “in production” isn’t one you’d typically associate with a luxury fashion flagship. But then again, Kiko Kostadinov has never played by traditional retail rules. The Bulgarian-born, London-based designer’s first U.S. store, now open in Los Angeles’ Melrose Hill gallery district, is less a retail space and more an evolving art installation.
After debuting his first permanent store in Tokyo earlier this year, Kostadinov has brought his unconventional retail ethos stateside. Situated among blue-chip galleries and the city’s burgeoning culinary hotspots, the 1,500-square-foot flagship feels at home in LA’s avant-garde cultural landscape.
But it’s the store’s conceptual design—crafted by cult artist Ryan Trecartin—that truly sets it apart. Like its Tokyo counterpart, the LA store is a living, breathing space that evolves over time. Upon opening, the store enters “Draft Settings,” a phase where scaffolding, placeholder materials, and photorealistic renderings create an intentional “work-in-progress” aesthetic. It’s a commentary on production, permanence, and the fluidity of creative spaces.
By Spring 2025, the store will reveal a permanent installation shaped by local artisans, under Trecartin’s direction. The result? A flagship that blurs the line between art gallery and boutique, challenging the way we experience fashion in physical spaces.
Of course, Kostadinov’s signature product lines—menswear, womenswear, accessories, footwear, and special projects—are the core draw. But the store also serves a deeper purpose: as a physical anchor for the brand in a market where digital-first thinking often prevails.
In a year marked by collaborations with Levi’s and Fox Racing, alongside multiple runway collections and the opening of a Paris office, the LA flagship represents Kostadinov’s belief in the enduring power of physical spaces. "There’s all these interesting categories that we would not be able to do if we didn’t have that physical location," Kostadinov explained. From cultivating relationships with the entertainment industry to hosting in-store events, the LA store is designed to be both a shopping destination and a cultural hub.
The location itself isn’t accidental, either. Melrose Hill situates the brand within walking distance of Morán Morán gallery, with whom Kostadinov collaborated on Otto 958 in 2020. It’s also a gateway to Hollywood’s red carpet machine, which Kostadinov sees as ripe with opportunities to expand the brand’s cultural footprint.
Laura and Deanna Fanning, the sisters helming Kostadinov’s womenswear line, view the store as a chance to further connect with their audience. “It’s interesting on the womenswear side that the clients are growing with us,” Laura notes. “Having a physical space allows us to deepen those relationships.”
