Why Angelina Jolie's choice of Jean-Michel Basquiat's former studio for new brand HQ is inspiring

This fall Angelina Jolie’s new brand will take up residence at 57 Great Jones Street in the former studio of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat who lived there from 1983 until his death in 1988. The 6,600-square-foot old carriage house, which was listed for 60,000 dollars a month, had been on the market for 8 months, its previous occupant the exclusive Japanese restaurant, Bohemian. Located on a tranquil downtown cobble-stoned street, the property is far removed from the grind and grit of the New York fashion industry located in Manhattan’s midtown. The location would seem to align with Jolie’s vision to build a different kind of fashion business. “She made sure she got this deal,” John Roesch, the broker at Meridian Capital Group who represented the landlord, told Curbed. He also noted that she did not send her team but visited multiple times over six months, developing a true connection with the space which prompted Meridian, despite having received multiple offers for the property, to accept Jolie’s. “We decided that Angelina’s concept would be the best fit and use for the building,” said Roesch.