The SoHo Intersection That’s Become A Streetwear Destination

If I were the mother of a teenage boy who owned more than three pairs of sneakers and spent longer than 60 seconds looking at himself in the mirror each morning, the intersection of Mercer and Howard Streets in Soho is where I would go looking for him if he ever went missing. In the past few years, these off-Broadway streets have become a destination for fashion-curious men (and some women) who want to buy into streetwear culture and its many forms, from graphic skate tees to Adidas sneakers designed by Kanye West. Stores including VFiles, Stadium Goods, Billionaire Boys Club, Palace Skateboards, NikeLab 21M, and Off-White create an outdoor mall for items such as these, which are particularly hyped among young people for their relative affordability and constant supply. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the French designer Agnès B., whose humble storefront sits smack in the middle of all this. Long lines for “drops,” or timed releases of limited-edition items, plus in-store events hosting celebrities like Justin Bieber, flood the area with stylish locals, tourists, and the occasional parental chaperone. At least one amateur photo shoot is happening at all times, and at around 5 p.m., multiple store employees report, the distinct smell of marijuana tends to waft throughout the area. Read more at The Cut.