Story / Bayr Ubushi
Photographs / Courtesy of Flying Solo
In recent times, the retail business has confronted wave after wave of disruption—from the pandemic-driven shutdowns of bodily shops to the most recent spherical of tariffs threatening to make operations much more difficult. Whereas main retailers could have the cushion to outlive, small rising manufacturers usually wrestle to seek out their place on this fiercely aggressive market.
9 years in the past, a bunch of six unbiased designers got here collectively to problem the standard retail mannequin. As a substitute of competing towards one another, they selected to collaborate—and thus, Flying Solo was born. What began as a modest boutique on Mulberry Avenue in New York has since developed into a strong retail platform and thriving inventive neighborhood. Immediately, Flying Solo represents over 200 designers throughout its flagship shops in New York and Paris, providing a daring and inclusive area for unbiased expertise.
“After we first stepped into the area, it was simply an empty concrete field,” remembers Elizabeth Solomeina, considered one of Flying Solo’s co-founders. “We had no funds to rent contractors, so we needed to be taught all the pieces ourselves—from fundamental electrical work to constructing clothes racks out of steel pipes. Portray the partitions was most likely the best job.” However this spirit of collaboration made the unattainable attainable. One designer introduced chairs from dwelling, one other sourced tables, and collectively, they remodeled the area. In July 2016, the primary Flying Solo boutique formally opened its doorways in SoHo—at a time when actual property costs within the space have been skyrocketing.
The idea proved so profitable that inside a 12 months, the collective outgrew its authentic area and opened a bigger flagship location on West Broadway, taking up a former Roberto Cavalli retailer. That very same 12 months, Flying Solo made its debut on the New York Style Week runway, injecting a contemporary and disruptive vitality right into a scene historically dominated by giants like Michael Kors and Ralph Lauren.
At first, few took the brand new collective critically. “The style world will be harsh and dismissive,” stated one co-founder. “However over time, individuals started to acknowledge that Flying Solo was turning into an actual drive.” 9 years later, the collective boasts over 40 runway reveals throughout New York, Paris, Milan, and Miami. Regardless of the challenges of the pandemic, Flying Solo not solely survived—it thrived, opening a second retailer in New York at a time when legacy retailers like Barneys filed for chapter and Century 21 shuttered.
In 2025, as shopper spending slows amid financial uncertainty, Flying Solo stays forward-looking. The crew stays engaged with its viewers by dynamic social media content material and by spotlighting new skills in style. In a digital age the place all the pieces feels accessible, Flying Solo prospects are searching for one thing extra—individuality, self-expression, and creativity. The curated collections in-store assist them stand out from the group.
As we stated earlier, Flying Solo is greater than only a retail platform—it’s a neighborhood of style creatives in NYC. Every month, the crew hosts unique occasions for business professionals together with fashions, photographers, designers, and extra. Each gathering is a celebration of style, model, and above all—friendship. These are the values on the coronary heart of Flying Solo.
No two occasions are the identical. One is perhaps an elegant vacation dinner, one other an intimate rooftop gathering at considered one of New York’s hottest venues, or perhaps a cozy potluck dinner for native stylists. Flying Solo continues to shock and delight with every new expertise.
A lot of this success will be credited to the model’s in-house PR division, launched a 12 months after the primary retailer opened on Mulberry Avenue. Initially situated within the boutique’s copper-toned basement—affectionately dubbed The Copper Room—this area later impressed the title of Flying Solo’s very personal PR company.
Launching the company wasn’t simple. Not everybody understood its significance on the time. However years later, The Copper Room has produced a whole lot of editorial shoots, journal covers, interviews, and extra—incomes a status as considered one of New York’s high style PR businesses.
Flying Solo has grow to be a strong instance of how friendship, collaboration, and neighborhood can construct a profitable enterprise—even throughout essentially the most difficult occasions for retail. It’s not only a retailer. It’s a motion—and it’s solely getting began.
