Is Gallery Dept. U-Turning on Retirement Plans?
It ain’t over ’til it’s over.
Almost a year after hosting a ‘going out of business’ sale and sharing a lengthy farewell message via Instagram, LA streetwear brand Gallery Dept. is far from obsolete.
Unable to commit to retirement, the elusive label collaborated with Lanvin for a second time back in March, lending its paint-splattered signature to a line-up of hoodies, sweatpants and leather goods. A second flagship Gallery Dept. store opened mere weeks ago in Miami, and luxury retailers like A Ma Maniére are reportedly receiving new shipments of the brand’s stock, too.
So what exactly is going on behind the scenes at Gallery Dept.? Was founder Josué Thomas just drumming up hype when vowing to ‘continue the practice of being an artist and withdraw from the fashion industry’?
We can’t provide much in the way of answers - all we can say for sure is that you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s (almost) gone; that’s why there’s never been a better moment to cop some of the brand’s must-have pieces.
An established name in the US since 2017, Gallery Dept. can thank early adopters like LeBron James, Drake and Virgil Abloh for a smooth, speedy road to success. Identified by bold, capitalised branding and a weathered aesthetic inspired by Thomas’s parents’ penchant for vintage fashion, this streetwear brand’s designs span repurposed denim, chunky silver jewellery and - of course - all the loungewear essentials you need to look put together without even trying.
Some of our current favourites include the Zuma shorts in navy and black, as well as this classic logo print T-shirt that’s spun from soft cotton jersey and has a laidback, relaxed fit. Stock is limited, though, so we’d recommend acting fast if you want to secure your wishlist.
The future might be uncertain for Gallery Dept. but its popularity in hip-hop and streetwear circles continues to be a sure thing. Keep an eye on our Instagram for updates on this brand’s ambiguous on-again/off-again status, and all the latest from other leading sneaker and streetwear brands.