"Entering Ramdane Touhami's innovative retail space in Tokyo"
Say it Loud! Words, Tunes, Hues, and Forms, That's Us! Ramdane Touhami, the maverick genius, has dropped anchor in Tokyo with his retail gem, sharing the same name as his brainchild - a haven for printed media, music, vibrant trinkets, and meticulously crafted fashion collections. Touhami's first foray into Japanese soil follows the launch of his ship in Paris's Le Marais district, home to his creative fiefdom Art Recherche Industrie [1][3].
Nestled among Nakameguro's charming nooks and crannies, dotted with quaint boutiques, cafes, and eateries, the store finds shelter under verdant American Sycamores [2]. The 45 sq m space occupies the ground floor of a three-storey building doused in soft green hues, with the first floor reserved for a cafe and second floor for a gallery [3]. Touhami playfully declares, "With nearby stores of my beloved brands like Mountain Research and The Nonnative, and many pals in the hood, it felt like home when I spotted the empty building and decided to stake my claim as a neighbor!"
Upon crossing the threshold, patrons are greeted by a cozy wooden haven, with walls adorned with various wood veneers sourced from a local Japanese lumberyard. Two monstrous Altec Lansing speakers, famous for their appearance in The Beatles recordings, dominate the sky-high 4.5-m ceiling [2]. Music, a signature aspect of Touhami's realms, washed down from above, as he desired the sound to cascade like a cinematic waterfall [2].
The store showcases Touhami's original outdoor apparel label Dei Drei Berge and rugs he designed for Hotel Drei Berge, which opened in the Swiss Alps in 2023. The assortment also includes tableware used at the hotel, magazines by Touhami's publishing house Permanent Files, andissues of the Radical Media Archive-magazine, which chronicles political graphics and propaganda [2]. Touhami himself has woven a tapestry of curation, pouring his soul and spirit into each selection.
A staunch advocate of Japanese craftsmanship, Touhami is meticulous about sharing the backstory behind each product, investing great energy into training his staff to narrate tales that breathe life into the items they sell [3]. The store's offerings encompass an eclectic mix of approximately 200 items, such as a cashmere/cotton maximal button hoodie weaved on a 100-year-old balthazar loopwheel machine in Wakayama Prefecture, and a multi-pocket blue shirt featuring intricate stitching from Gifu Prefecture [3].
Many accredit Touhami with creating a "new" shopping experience, but the eccentric innovator shakes his head. "I'm not here to redefine shopping," he says. "I simply wanted a cute little store in my cherished neighborhood. Did I need to create a spectacle to impress the masses? Absolutely not! I sought perfection in my own little way."
Accordingly, Touhami designs almost everything in the store with Art Recherche Industrie, ensuring a resolutely Japanese lineage for sweatshirts, boots, mugs, trousers, and more [2]. The store stands more than a merchant's den; it feels like a collective space where Touhami's companions and neighbors convene. "Welcome to my sanctuary," Touhami warmly invites.
Words, Sounds, Colors and Shapes
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- The retail gem in Tokyo, known as Art Recherche Industrie, combines various lifestyle offerings such as home-and-garden items, fashion, and shopping, creating a unique and charming space unlike any other.
- As patrons explore the cozy wooden haven of Art Recherche Industrie, they can find not only Touhami's original outdoor apparel but also tableware, magazines, and other home-and-garden curiosities, all handpicked by Touhami himself.
