Fashion’s latest trend has nothing to do with fashion. 2019 is officially the year of designer cafés, and Saint Laurent is the latest to hop on the bandwagon. 

First it was Jacquemus in Galeries Lafayette, followed by Prada’s Marchesi 1824 in Mayfair, and then Fendi’s Harrods takeover earlier this summer. And today, French fashion house Saint Laurent announced its open-air take on the trend, transforming its Rive Droite concept store in Paris into a full-fledged café—covered top-to-toe in black marble, of course.

“A destination for creativity and culture.” This is how Anthony Vaccarello, creative director of Saint Laurent, described the luxury label’s new store concept, introduced last June in Paris and Los Angeles. In the French capital, the store opened at 213 rue Saint-Honoré, taking over the premises formerly home to directional concept store Colette. In an innovative twist for Saint Laurent, the new boutique features a café and an exhibition area, in addition to limited-edition products and unique collaborations.

From September 15, on the corner between rue du 29 Juillet and number 213 on rue Saint-Honoré, Saint Laurent customers will be able to enjoy a coffee in the label’s signature cups, each carrying a QR code which gives access to the week’s playlist.

The exhibition inaugurating the store’s gallery area is entitled ‘African Art’, and is curated by the Lucas Ratton gallery. The exhibits have been chosen by Vaccarello and include items bought by Yves Saint Laurent himself. Displayed throughout the store, they are available for purchase and will be updated regularly.

With its all black and neon light decor, the place offers all types of coffee à la carte, which are made using the top of the range Faema E61, a barista’s favorite, as well as a selection of pastries and cakes. What’s more is that each week, for each coffee purchased, a QR code containing a playlist compiled by the house of Saint Laurent by will be shared.

Due to open on September 15, the café will open alongside an exhibition of African art pieces curated by Anthony Vaccarello himself, featuring a selection of pieces that include an ultra-rare sculpture of a SENUFO hombill bird, an Ivorian mythical animal (and the first piece of African art bought by Yves Saint Laurent). Also available are terracotta statues from Mali and a shoulder mask from Nigeria.

From Malian to Nigerian art, mythology is the central theme of the exhibition with many of the pieces for sale being ritual objects believed to protect and rule African communities. 

You’ll also find a highly coveted selection of vintage furniture at the Rive Droite store as well. Among them are a few high-end pieces by renowned Brazilian furniture designers Joaquim Tenreiro and Jose Zanine Caldas. And if you’ve been waiting to get your hands on a Pierre Jeanneret pony-sofa and caned office chair, now is your chance, the Patrick Séguin Gallery is putting them on sale at Rive Droite.

The post A Saint Laurent Cafe is Opening in Paris appeared first on Fadedmix Magazine.