The first edition of Retail Lab featuring Timo Weiland has opened its doors to the public at Cadillac House.

“It’s surreal to see it come to life in this space and really show the lifestyle that we want the man and woman to embrace,” said Weiland, who is behind the brand with Alan Eckstein and Donna Kang. “They can walk in and say, ‘I want the jacket, I want the sweater, I want the lamp, I want the chair.’

The shop features a selection of exclusive merchandise, including a curated collection of eyewear from Zenni and some “see now, buy now” pieces from the label’s runway collection at New York Fashion Week: Men’s. Timo Weiland also collaborated with Vista Allegre on tabletop items, and also sells the displayed furniture that Eckstein acquired from estate sales over the years. In addition, the store features several innovative retail elements such as Axis cameras equipped with Prism heat-mapping technology, and KWI’s sophisticated POS systems that provide participating designers with access to valuable sales and customer analytics.

“There are a lot of moving parts,” Weiland said. “For us it’s the name of the game to stay on top of the back end without losing the passion for the creative side.”

Weiland acknowledged a kindred spirit with Cadillac, which created Retail Lab in collaboration with the CFDA. As he described it, “We are proud to be American, and we are proud to be accessible with a luxury sensibility.”

Throughout the next three months, Weiland, Eckstein and Kang plan to host several music events at the store, and they will continue to update the merchandise mix. “We will keep it constantly fresh,” Weiland said. “That’s why people know to come back.”

Retail Lab is located within Cadillac House at 330 Hudson Street, and will be open 7 days a week from 11am – 7pm through September.

Photographer: Mac Shafer