Founded in 2013 by prolific multi-hyphenates Gene Han and Jaeki Cho, sneaker emporium ALUMNI has since gone leaps and bounds, operating three outposts in different areas of Brooklyn. But this year, the retailers have gone full throttle in the retail department, opening their first store outside New York City. Mind you, it’s not just outside of the Big Apple, it’s halfway across the planet in Chengdu. As one of China‘s booming first-tier cities, the Sichuan province capital has its fair share of luxury flagship stores and independent boutiques, but still lags behind the country’s leading lifestyle hubs of Shanghai and Beijing. The ALUMNI store is situated at 1906 Creative Park, a redeveloped gunpowder factory and warehouse from the late Qing dynasty, and occupies a 2,900 sq.ft. (269 sqm.) unit in the only remaining building of the complex.

Designed by Beijing-based architecture practice FON Studio, the store settings see many of the building’s original industrial elements paired with modern interventions crafted from understated raw materials, such as birch, ceramics and metal. The end result is a series of open and engaging spaces that incite exploration and effortlessly blend old and new, creating a unique shopping experience in the city. Needless to say, the ALUMNI founders have brought their streetwear expertise to town with an expertly curated range of coveted brands that’ll resonate well with the many discerning young shoppers that live here, including Cav Empt, Martine Rose, Y-3, Hender Scheme, BEAMS+, White Mountaineering and ROARINGWILD.

Designed by

FON Studio

Images © ALUMNI