Union’s Chris Gibbs Speaks on Significance of Partnering With Nordstrom on Massive Pop-Up
Call it a homecoming, but don’t call it a comeback. Union Los Angeles just launched a massive pop-up space inside Nordstrom called Union & Company featuring collaborations with 13 of the hottest brands in the game right now.
The pop-up is part of Nordstrom’s New Concepts project that highlights what’s next and best in menswear, an initiative curated by Nordstrom VP of Men’s Fashion Sam Lobban, and brings Union proprietor Chris Gibbs’ collaborative vision to life.
The two chopped it up last week for an intimate panel experience with Jian DeLeon, Highsnobiety New York’s editorial director, and spoke about Union’s impact in menswear and street culture, and how influences from both sides have coalesced into a style that blurs the boundaries between the two.
The pop-up’s significance is underscored by the fact that this is the first time Union has worked with another retailer, and for the store to return to its roots in New York City makes the partnership that much more special.
“I started in New York at the Union store here and then moved to Los Angeles in 2003. When I moved there, Union and streetwear, and what we were, was still largely a T-shirt and a hat,” Gibbs recalled while speaking to an intimate crowd inside the main floor of the Nordstrom Men’s NYC store.
“It was when I moved out to LA, that’s when I really got into Japanese streetwear. Neighborhood and WTAPS, and A Bathing Ape, [at the time] is something that we kind of started in LA.” — Chris Gibbs
View this post on Instagram We caught up with Union co-owner Chris Gibbs and Sam Lobban, VP of Men's Fashion at Nordstrom, to learn about the new partnership that is a massive 13-brand collaboration featuring more than 170 exclusive new products. The capsule features items from Fear of God, Cactus Plant Flea Market, Awake NY, Jordan Brand, Marni, Rhude, and many more. Available now through September 1. A post shared by HIGHSNOBIETY (@highsnobiety) on Jul 17, 2019 at 11:59am PDT
With exclusive product from brands including Union itself, Awake NY, BornxRaised, Cactus Plant Flea Market, Camp High, Fear of God, Jordan Brand, Marni, Neighborhood x Converse, No Vacancy Inn, Our Legends, Reigning Champ, and Rhude, the Union & Company pop-up will run through September 1 across eight Nordstrom stores in the US.
While some styles are already sold out, you can still shop the Union & Company pop-up at participating Nordstrom stores, Nordstrom's online store, and Union's online store.
