new york sunshine-designed UNKNWN store opens during art basel miami

co-founded by lebron james, jaron kanfer, and frankie walker jr., UNKNWN is a miami-based retail destination and culture creator within the worlds of arts, fashion, sports, and music. on the occasion of miami art week 2019, the company has opened a new 10,000 square-feet store designed by new york sunshine’s john margaritis located in the vibrant wynwood district.

boasting an industrial vibe that resonates with miami’s wynwood district, visitors are welcomed by a margaritis-designed water feature made of basketball goals, copper and water. the sumptuous piece features two inverted hoops opposed to each other that are reflected by a water mirror under them. around it, a concrete seating area invites people to unwind and take a break from retail by uncluttering the space from merchandise. adjacent to the center piece, brand visuals are projected on a live-plant wall highlighting and showcasing new arrivals, exclusive collections and key product drops.

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another key feature of the space is the custom-designed concrete shelving system displaying a total of 175 footwear releases from an edit of world-class brands. bespoke LED-lit shelves suspended from the ceiling and 20-custom dyed shelving fixtures and displays complete the original look.

‘for the UNKNWN store I wanted to create a community environment where you can look through shoes, play basketball and experience being part of wynwood,’ john margaritis told designboom at the opening event of the store in miami. ‘it was not about bringing something new into the community but rather being part of it.’

the design by john margaritis pays homage to basketball — a shared passion of the three co-founders who met as young men in akron, ohio — by centering the space around an open-air, sunset-inspired functional court and multi-use courtyard space. complete with hoops, the basketball courtyard features a characteristic color scheme comprised of bold blue hues and white baselines. lined with gardens, the court also features 200+ feet of mural wall space that will be constantly changing for different art creations. basketball games, concerts, and screenings are just a few of the activities that will take place here.

known for showcasing multi-brand designer apparel, footwear, and accessories, UNKNWN first opened in 2011 in miami’s aventura mall, earning a global reputation and clientele by offering covetable sneakers and collectible items. with the aim of reinventing the shopping experience, UNKNWN connects brands to consumers through high-level experiences and products.

‘I’m excited about this new space because every inch and every detail is dedicated to bringing people together,’ comments lebron james. ‘from the basketball court that will host community events to featuring custom collaborations and celebrating local art, this location is all about fusing fashion, sport, culture and community. this innovative and engaging space takes not only the UNKNWN brand, but also the brick-and-mortar retail concept, to a whole new level.’

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the co-founders will be celebrating the store’s opening — which will also centralize UNKNWN’s online operations — with a series of private events, limited edition products and exclusive collaboration items with bape, just don, chinatown market, pleasures, new era, bornxraised, psychworld, new york sunshine, as well as exclusive re-releases with nike, jordan, vans x rhude, and bearbrick among others.

project info:

name: UNKNWN store
designers: new york sunshine (www.newyorksunshine.com)
opening date: december 2019
location: 261 NW 26th street, miami, florida
size: approximately 10,000 square feet total, including 3,000 square feet of retail space and 4,000 square feet of courtyard space