Longtime Tribecan and local shopkeeper Al Abayan has expanded his setup on Laight Street, taking the storefront next to his jewel box of a shop, RE : AL, inside Mudhoney at 165 Hudson. Al had the shop Number Nine at 431 Washington; he opened the smaller shop next to Mudhoney in 2018.

The new store will offer clothing most of the time, but will also be a flexible space for Fashion Week showroom events, trunk shows, brand installations, holiday bazaars, etc.

Al treats retail more like a gallery — and his wares are carefully curated. “There will always be a retail installation here, but you don’t know what it will be — men’s, women’s, home,” he said. This fall he had installations for Birgitte Herskind and The Soloist, with which he has a longtime collaboration; right now he has both sides — black and white — set up as a gift shop.

The space is beautiful (I always take a ton of pictures since every corner has a vignette): he sanded down the floors, added Tom Dixon lamps, and had the clothing racks custom made in the Bronx from coated rebar.

Al is always on the lookout for up-and-coming designers and he has the best eye for quality and originality. “I like to give the young designers a chance to shine,” he said. “Plus, all the big stores have the same things — people come here for something special.”

RE : AL
165 Hudson | entrance on Laight
917.675.6764