BAZAAAAAR by Urban Outfitters
Africa comes to LA and NYC in a pop-up with goods by Della, African Lookbook, Fashion Rising and more
Urban Outfitters has been pushing a contemporary global trend this season that started with Burkman Bros’ “Tourist” collaboration, and continues with the pop-up “BAZAAAAAR Street Market” that opened in LA on Friday and launches in New York on Thursday, 9 May 2013. LA designer and Della founder Tina Tangalakis explains that the project has been in the works since July 2012. Her line of fair trade clothing—made in Ghana by women—is going to be in 30 Urban Outfitters stores in North America and online.
The idea for BAZAAAAAR comes from Marissa Maximo, a RISD alum and the Director of Special Projects for Urban Outfitters. Last year she put together a surfing pop-up shop in Space 15 Twenty, Urban’s permanent multi-purpose space in Hollywood. That project ended up introducing a number of Australian brands into the company’s family.
The BAZAAAAAR is an idea Marissa developed while visiting street markets in Asia, and Tangalakis helped to make the idea a reality. Most of the pieces in Space 15 Twenty and the forthcoming Fifth Avenue location are African, coming from the recently-formed online outpost African Lookbook and the sustainably-minded design collective Fashion Rising.
Now Again Records’ own Zamrock collection became a perfect inspiration and accompaniment to the BAZAAAAAR. The label’s revival of Marley-influenced Zambian rock collections coincided with Theophilus London’s appearance on Friday night, who performed with projected footage of the late musician Fela Kuti.
Thursday’s opening of the New York BAZAAAAAR in Urban Outfitter’s 5th Avenue store is free and open to the public from 6-9pm at 521 Fifth Avenue.
Images by Aaron Kohn
