b Store: an Incubator for Fresh Talent

José Neves, Matthew Murphy, and Kirk Beattie launched b Store in 2010 solely as a shoe line. Based in Mayfair’s Conduit Street, London, the store was a launching pad for local young graduates of fashion, art, and design.

In 2006, the store moved to the famous Savile Row, evolving into a unisex clothing line, which gained the store the coveted title “Shop of the Year.”

Now b Store is more than a store: it is a boutique—a fashion destination that continues the tradition of promoting and nurturing fresh, new talent.

The b Store collection is designed by two of the co-owners, Matthew Murphy and Kirk Beattie, who first met in the early 90’s, quickly becoming friends.

The duo design team draw their inspiration from mutual interests in art, film, and music—particularly from icons like David Bowie, Joy Davison, and the Human League.

José Neves, who was keen on launching a London-based shoe line, joined Matthew and Kirk in 2001. Stay tuned for the b Store 2010 autumn/winter collection!

Photos & slideshow spring/summer 2010 collection Copyright b Store.

2010 Autumn/Winter Collection “Benjamin Braddock” by B Store

The following text is a recent press release that I received from b Store:

The disaffected young American as personified by Dustin Hoffman’s clean-cut, preppy character in The Graduate, tempered with the casual nihilism and twilight lifestyle of Brett Easton Ellis’s blank generation, drives an Ivy League sportswear-inspired collection from b Store for spring/summer 2010.

This reworked collegiate aesthetic is set against a backdrop of cold teenage indifference and disillusionment fuelled by materialism, sex, and drugs. The evidence of hedonistic excess from the night before, hidden under shades for a beach club brunch with the dysfunctional folks. All played out to an off-kilter soundtrack from the golden age of MTV, flitting from British new wave and hair metal to industrial rock and rap.

Classic American sportswear staples form the basis for a silhouette that updates signature b Store shapes with a new focus on athletic influences. The three-button single-breasted blazer, triple-pleated trouser and resort shorts are rethought using crisp cotton pique. Windcheaters and trench coats emerge in high-sheen technical fabrics. Delicate sheer knits inject sex appeal. Baseball jackets, chinos and slim shirting emphasize the importance of chambray, denim, and gingham check in reinventing the preppy uniform. High-summer shades of sky blue, navy, beige, white, and dove grey dominate a cool, functional color palette.

The debut accessories collaboration with Awai this season introduces a modular collection of document cases, belts, and wallets. Tan leather and raw denim components combine separate book bags and sunglasses cases to recreate the ‘it’ beach bag with a sophisticated b Store slant.

Signature footwear directions for spring/summer include a new classic two-tone paneled Oxford in either sky blue and tan or brown and indigo mixes. Alongside, the cutaway shoe/sandal lace-ups, sneakers, and high-tops.



Photos & slideshow spring/summer 2010 collection Copyright b Store.