Fashion designer Tory Burch has collaborated with former fashion designer-turned-restaurateur Humberto Leon to launch a new pop-up shop in Los Angeles. The Tory Burch x Humberto Leon concept shop, located at 8483 Melrose Avenue at the corner of La Cienega Boulevard, will serve as a temporary outpost for Burch until the end of the year, while her flagship Tory Burch store on Rodeo Drive undergoes renovations.
Leon, based in L.A. and known for co-founding Opening Ceremony and serving as the former co-creative director at Kenzo, curated the pop-up’s selection of Tory Burch apparel and accessories. He also designed the store’s interior, which features pink seating and strawberry-shaped vases commissioned from Mexican designer-architect Aranza Garcia. Additionally, Leon collaborated with Burch to create special-edition concert-style T-shirts, sweatshirts, and tote bags. The merchandise draws inspiration from German photographer Walter Schels’ blown-up photos of cats and bunnies, which are also prominently featured in the store’s decor and on select pieces from Burch’s resort 2024 collection.
“I wanted to create some unisex pieces that felt fun and effortless,” said Leon, who is also the founder of L.A. restaurants Chifa and Arroz & Fun, regarding the collaborative Tory Burch merchandise. He also expressed his interest in styling Burch’s clothing in new and versatile ways, stating, “I like the idea of treating all clothing equally, whether it’s a ballgown or a T-shirt. I think the idea of choosing pieces that make sense creates an effortless outfit.”
The pop-up shop also presents the first drop of pieces from the Tory Burch Spring 2024 collection, including the popular Hoop dress, which has been worn by celebrities such as Emily Ratajkowski, Hailey Bieber, Selena Gomez, and Nicole Kidman. The brand has a strong following in Hollywood, as evidenced by the attendance of Uma Thurman, Naomi Watts, Hari Neff, Lori Harvey, Emma Roberts, Suki Waterhouse, Chloe Fineman, and Leon Bridges at the label’s Spring 2024 runway presentation in New York City.
Tory Burch, a first-time nominee for Womenswear Designer of the Year at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards, has injected fresh momentum and a slightly more minimalist look into her 20-year-old brand in recent years. Her husband, Pierre-Yves Roussel, the former CEO of the LVMH Fashion Group, took on the role of CEO of the Tory Burch brand in 2019, allowing Burch to refocus on design as the chief creative officer and executive chairman. Notably, Roussel played a pivotal role in hiring Leon and Carol Lim as co-creative directors of Kenzo in 2011.
