July 11--Kit and Ace, the Canadian purveyor of machine-washable cashmere, plans to open its first Chicago store late this summer in Fulton Market.
The upscale casual retailer, which has opened 18 stores across North America since launching a year ago, has signed a lease for a 1,200-square-foot shop at 821 W. Fulton Market, the company said Friday.
The shop is part of an aggressive growth plan to open 30-50 Kit and Ace shops or pop-ups worldwide by the end of the year, from Milwaukee to Australia.
With just a one-year lease in Chicago, the company hopes to test the location, and if it goes well it will stay, said co-founder JJ Wilson.
It is one of the first retail chains to move into Fulton Market, the hot meatpacking district teeming with restaurants and new office and apartment projects. Billy Reid, a casual luxury brand based in Alabama, plans to open in the neighborhood in September.
"West Loop is an up-and-coming neighborhood with a great vibe and the right mix of shops, restaurants and businesses," Wilson said in an email. "The location speaks to our brand, and we wanted to be part of the neighborhood."
Wilson is the son of Lululemon founder Chip Wilson. He and his stepmother, Shannon Wilson, who is married to Chip, founded Kit and Ace to produce sporty apparel that the company calls "technical luxury."
"We took a look at our friends and family and saw a group of people living 'full-contact' lives who needed clothing that could keep up but was still functional, stylish and luxurious," Wilson said.
Technical Cashmere is the foundational fabric from the company's proprietary Qemir ("come here") family of fabrics, which also include silks and wools, Wilson said. The cashmere has been enhanced with "technical fibers" so that it retains its shape and can be machine washed. The collection of neutral-hued basics includes $58 tank tops and $168 midi-dresses for women, and $88 T-shirts and $118 cardigans for men.
Kit and Ace strives to make the design of its stores "hyper local." The West Loop store will feature light fixtures and custom furnishings, including its signature Supper Club table, created by a Chicago designer, plus a custom installation created by a local artist. It will also include a gallery-style exhibition of local photographers.
aelejalderuiz@tribpub.com
