Month of Design's Shop and See has goal to increase foot traffic in downtown Detroit
You may see new art and clothing installations in some of your favorite downtown Detroit businesses.
This is because of an event called Shop and See, where entrepreneurs can partner with a local artist who will create a temporary or permanent installation inside of storefront businesses.
The event is part of the annual Detroit Month of Design, which has been hosted by Design Core every September for the last 13 years. The Shop and See connects 10 businesses with designers, and the business owners can select which designer might fit their storefront’s aesthetic.
“Shop and See is a partnership with Bedrock to increase foot traffic into downtown businesses,” said Kiana Wenzell, director of Detroit Month of Design and co-executive of Design Core. All installations are available to see during regular store hours.
Design Core provides the designer and a $3,000 budget, while Bedrock selects storefronts and gives a budget of $1,000 to the business owner. Some of the businesses now have installations like a custom wallpaper design, a coloring wall or a pop-up shop that sells clothing accessories.
“The Shop and See is really connecting the designers with the business owners for long-term distribution channels and helping the designers to get practice and really expand their network,” Wenzell said.
An art installation has come to life inside of Vibe Ride Detroit, a group fitness studio that offers indoor spin classes, floor Pilates classes, HIIT classes, meditation sessions and an infrared sauna room. The almost-2,500-square-foot studio already has a Detroit-themed mural and a yoga mat by Jean-Michel Basquiat, so business owner Latricia Wilder decided a new installation would be very fitting. Wilder was partnered with designer Rick Williams, who is a co-owner of Distinct Life.
“We put our heads together, but a lot of it was led by Rick,” said Wilder, 42, of Detroit. “I really was pushing to get him because I'm a fan of him, his family, his story. I thought it was aligned with my thought process.”
Williams, 42, of Southfield, designed a mural with two speakers on the left and right sides of the wall, camouflage design that resembles a horizon, and a phrase in the middle that reads: “Vibe True.”
Wilder told him that the phrase means being true to yourself. Williams said his company’s messaging, such as living a distinguished life and not being identical to most, aligned with Wilder’s messaging in her business.
“So because of the synergy between that message and the message that we portray, it just made sense to highlight Vibe True,” said Williams.
When fitness studio clients walked into their morning class, they were taking photos of the new mural, and even caused class to begin late because they were discussing the new look.
The Shop and See is going to have a day event called Shop Downtown Detroit in Parkers Alley from noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 23. All of the participating Shop and See stores, along with a few additional businesses, will have activations such as guided walking tours, live music, trunk shows and food tasting.
Here are the businesses and designers that are participating in the Shop and See:
James Johnson with Survived
Natalie Pryor with The Lip Bar
Majesty Bland with Rebel Nell
Laura Jamies with Good Neighbor
Tony Whlgn with Milk&Froth
Taylor Childs with Throwback Home
Rick Williams with Vibe Ride Detroit
Sherrie Savage with Busted Bra Shop
Joe Reilley with Eastern Market After Dark
Onzie Norman
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Month of Design Shop and See brings new art to Detroit's businesses
