It’s been well-established that Shinola is a frontrunner in men’s accessories these days. Its distinctive watches made major waves last year when they landed a glitzy Vanity Fair spread, catapulting the brand from humble hometown startup to upscale industry leader. (We even snagged one for our annual holiday gift guide.) A tipster tells Shop Around that the brand’s American-made goods—which also include bicycles, journals, and wallets, primarily in luxurious leathers—will soon be a lot easier for Washingtonians to get their hands on. A Shinola boutique is rumored to be headed to the District.
We first heard the news in December, when the Michigan label announced plans for expansion not only to DC, but also to Minneapolis, Chicago, and London. Currently, the only standalone Shinola store that exists outside of its Detroit home base is in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood, though a selection of the brand’s products are sold nationwide at high-end retailers such as Neiman Marcus.
Our suspicions were furthered when a DC-based job posting popped up on Shinola’s website. Our tipster says 14th Street is the top of the list for its location, though Shinola reps did not immediately respond to requests for confirmation of the rumor. We’ll update as we hear from them.
If the rumor proves true, the shop would sit alongside other neighborhood fashion favorites such as Federal, Mutiny, and Redeem. Where would you like to see the store open? Let us know in the comments.
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