PLAYGROUND DETROIT had the first look inside the new John Varvatos store on Thursday, March 12, 2015. Mr. Varvatos, a Detroit native returned to his hometown to speak about the store, his decision to open his newest location in his hometown and the role it will play in downtown Detroit’s ongoing resurgence. In partnership with Dan Gilbert and his Bedrock Real Estate Services firm, the 4,600 square foot retail space is located at 1500 Woodward Avenue and is the brand’s first Midwest location. It is located in one of the oldest buildings in the city, designed by Gordon Lloyd, originally known as the Schwankovsky Temple of Music, fitting as his inspiration for his menswear designs come from his passion and inspiration of rock and roll and the Motor City.

John Varvatos is an American men’s fashion designer, who started his career as a designer in NYC with Polo Ralph Lauren in 1984, then moving to Calvin Klein in 1990 as Head of Menswear Design. He is credited with designing the ‘boxer-brief’ hybrid. He has won several awards including the CFDA Perry Ellis Award for New Menswear Designer as well as for Menswear Designer of the Year.

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