Checkerboard walls wrap Awake NY store by Rafael de Cárdenas
![Replica of metal globe from World Fair in Queens](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2023/06/awake-ny_rafael-de-cardenas_dezeen_2364_col_0-852x1065.jpg)
The new home for the men’s clothing line at 62 Orchard Street is a homage to New York City’s fashion meccas of the 1980s and 90s, many of which have since shuttered.
“Both De Cárdenas and Baque grew up in New York around the same time, which informed their design direction,” said a joint statement from the duo. “They built upon shared memories of lost landmarks in New York design and youth culture: Canal Jean, Antique Boutique, and Unique — and used them as reference points for the store identity.”
![Clothing hung on rails below a carved wooden frame](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2023/06/awake-ny_rafael-de-cardenas_dezeen_2364_col_2-852x568.jpg)
The store retains some of the features left over from the family-owned suiting business that formerly occupied the space.
Logos of brands carried by the previous tenants are still visible on the glass vitrines on either side of the entrance.
![Checkerboard wall behind a stereo system and a pair of chairs](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2023/06/awake-ny_rafael-de-cardenas_dezeen_2364_col_5-852x1065.jpg)
These display cases now carry bright blue carpets and colorful portraits by local artist Alvin Armstrong.
Other remnants from the store’s past include the original exterior signage, which reads “Mens Clothiers”, and carved wooden frames above the clothing racks inside.
![A giant plywood 'A'](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2023/06/awake-ny_rafael-de-cardenas_dezeen_2364_col_6-852x568.jpg)
New elements include the flooring, sourced from a school gym in Cleveland, and wood shelving affixed to the walls with ratchet straps.
At the back of the boutique, the walls are covered in a checkerboard pattern that is repeated on a display stand closer to the center.
Some of the industrial-style columns and areas of the metal-paneled ceiling are left exposed, while other structural elements are painted white or wrapped in mirrors.
Murals by Larissa De Jesús Negrón adorn the fitting room area, and checkered chairs were sourced from B&B Italia.
![Plywood shelving with a small fridge installed inside](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2023/06/awake-ny_rafael-de-cardenas_dezeen_2364_col_3-852x1065.jpg)
There are also several large sculptural pieces placed on the shop floor, helping to create a flow for shoppers.
“The store is anchored by a replica of the Flushing Meadows Corona Park Unisphere, originally built for the 1964 World’s Fair in Baque’s hometown of Queens, and a floor-to-ceiling Awake NY ‘A’ built from plywood in the center of the store,” said the design team.
![Clothing displayed in the Awake NY store](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2023/06/awake-ny_rafael-de-cardenas_dezeen_2364_col_9-852x1065.jpg)
De Cárdenas, who is one of the judges for this year’s Dezeen Awards, has designed a variety of retail projects during his career.
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