Stave Off the Cold In Style at Acne Studio's New Sanlitun Shop
The fashion industry has been lusting over Scandinavian style as of late. Everyone seems to have adopted fashion brands from Sweden — H&M, Cos (Collection of Style), Arket, among others. But Acne Studios, launched in 1996 by Jonny Johansson in Stockholm, actually pioneered and defined modern Scandi fashion, which is practical yet chic, fused with hard-edged street style. Luckily enough for Beijing fans, this Swedish fashion house recently opened a flagship store in Sanlitun’s Taikooli complex.
That’s not to say Beijingers were unfamiliar with the brand before the opening of this Sanlitun branch. Acne hoodies and hats appliquéd with the iconic “face patch” had been winter staples for fashionistas in the capital for quite some time.
Expectations will therefore be high for this recently unveiled branch. Upon arrival, you’ll be struck by its clean, sleek look, abounding with straight lines and glass façades, all of which is very common in Scandinavia. The key element, however, is stainless steel, which is used extensively on clothes hangers, shelves, wall claddings as well fitting room dividers.
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This clean and cold atmosphere is a stark contrast to the sculptural clothing displays and the rugs that come in a warm pink tone. Both are custom made by British artist Max Lamb, with whom Acne Studios has collaborated since 2015 and whose designs are to be found in most of its stores.
Both men and women’s lines can be found in the store. The most popular “face patch” hoodies come in oversize design, making them unisex and a good fit for almost anyone.
Another evergreen piece that Acne Studios has been sporting for at least two years: the Deborah wool sweater, a wide-striped mohair sweater in purple and grey. Seeing as you can easily get knockoffs at a tenth of Acne’s original price from Taobao, we highly doubt you’ll ever spend a whopping RMB 21,000 on a classic shearling-trimmed biker jacket, or RMB 4,200 on a pair of classic suede Chelsea boots.
The best finds at this new store, however, are the functional expedition down-jackets (RMB 8,500 and up). They are part of a collaboration between Acne studios and another Swedish brand Fjällräven, known as an outdoor outfitter for nearly 80 years. These reversible down-jackets, coming in clashing primary colors on two sides, are designed in boxy silhouette shapes. They also feature bolding patches appliquéd at the chest and a faux-fur trimmed hoodie.
According to the sales assistant, these jackets can keep you warm even in the coldest weather in Stockholm. We’d say it’s a stylish alternative to the seen-everywhere Canada Goose parkas, for which many nationalistic consumers are boycotting anyway. All that, along with Beijing’s recent cold weather, make the timing of Acne’s Sanlitun opening spot on.
Read: Popular Jacket Brand Canada Goose Puts Beijing Flagship Store on Ice in Wake of US Trade War
Acne Studios
Daily, 10am-10pm. N3-13, Sanlitun Taikoo Li Complex, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯太古里北区N3-13
Photos: Belle Zhao
