Peep S.F.'s First Madewell—Plus An Exclusive Chat With J.Crew CEO Mickey Drexler!
Madewell says hello to San Francisco with its new location on the first floor of the Westfield Centre.
One of the most revered visionaries in the fashion business, J.Crew CEO Mickey Drexler has a thing or two to share when it comes to making it in the uber-competitive industry. On the eve of the grand opening fete celebrating San Francisco's first Madewell store, we caught up with the marketing and product genius—who not only founded Madewell and Old Navy, but was also responsible for Gap’s revolutionary heyday in the ‘90s—to find out about what’s inspiring him now, his take on the fashion scene in S.F. (where he lived for 18 years), and his tips for success! Here's how to get Made, Mickey style.
Why was it important for Madewell to open a S.F. location?
"It’s important because it’s a Madewell kind of town. There’s a lot of classic here, there’s a lot of Haight-Ashbury here, there’s a lot of Mission here, there’s a lot of everything going on in San Francisco and there’s a great appreciation for fashion in this town. I think the city has its own unique vibe and we’re also opening in Corte Madera on August 30th."
A plush leather couch and furniture found at the Alameda flea market are scattered about the store.
How did you decide upon this space and neighborhood?
"We waited two years for this spot. We looked Downtown and we felt that this floor, in this center, in this store was the best first move for Madewell because of traffic, etc. I love doing business with, well, I like to call them artisans. And so we have a lot of great hometown heroes stuff in here, from Mollusk Surf Shop and other unique companies."
The 'Hometown Heroes' table features local brands that have Madewell buzzing.
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