Flying Solo opens new SoHo store

As the old-fashioned brick-and-mortar retail model continues to struggle and legendary stores like Barneys filed for bankruptcy last year, new retail models that combine membership and the sharing economy, like Flying Solo, where brands pay a flat membership fee and maintain all the profits from retail sales, have become more prevalent in fashion and retail. Flying Solo has had a slow and steady rise to notoriety, being consistently featured in magazines and publications such as Vogue, Elle, and The NYTimes while attracting celebrities like Cardi B and Gigi Hadid.

Flying Solo is starting off 2020 with a bang with a new 8,000-square-foot location, at 382 W Broadway in SoHo NYC. According to the company, there are more than 1,600 brands on the waiting list to join their membership ranks. The new three-level store will be featuring clothing, accessories and jewelry brands including Vivienne Westwood, United Nude, and Coco and Breezy.

“We’re excited, our waitlist and our partners are growing everyday. We’re glad others are seeing Flying Solo’s model as the future as well”, said Elizabeth Solomeina, co-founder of Flying Solo, in a statement. "Retail is a really tough industry right now and as traditional stores keep closing, it’s leaving brands and designers with less and less opportunities. There needed to be a new approach to retail with flexible delivery schedules, direct access to customers and gross profits going directly to brands. Brands are finally taking their destinies in their own hands instead and changing the landscape of luxury retail.”

photo: courtesy of Flying Solo