The Canvas is a sustainable multi-brand fashion and lifestyle retail platform combining traditional retail spaces with Web 3.0 technology.
In the past year, The Canvas and its founder Devin Gilmartin have covered ground by opening seven locations in New York City. Its marquee location at Manhattan’s largest retail and transportation hub, the Westfield Shops at The Oculus World Trade Center, credits The Canvas as one of the largest retail tenant by square feet with six spaces. Besides the strategic partnership with Westfield, an additional store sit in the historic Seaport district in Manhattan.
Expanding into Wynwood in April 2023, The Canvas will open its first store outside New York in the US. As the CEO of The Canvas Global, Gilmartin is taking over the 5000-square-foot ground floor space previously occupied by Solana Spaces, a Web3 infrastructure promoting blockchain and NFT technology. The store will combine the retail platform and The Canvas 3.0, a Web3 gallery concept, similar to what The Canvas has established at the Westfields Shops in the Oculus WTC.
“The Canvas sits at the intersection of sustainability and artisan empowerment through its platform that provides a physical space for connection and enhances interactions with the community,” says David Ruddick, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Group Director of New Ventures and Strategic Relationships. “The Canvas has ambition, and we look forward to working with them to power this drive over time.”
Customers can browse, purchase, and interact with the products, understanding each story behind each product and the creators who crafted them. Creating a community of people passionate about sustainable fashion will also provide an opportunity for independent creators to gain visibility. Brands can access resources that help them realize their visions of creating a sustainable fashion brand. The Canvas has been influential in the start-up 3D sneaker-printing brand, Zellerfeld, fostering an incubator for next generation talent.
“Wynwood continues to grow and refine itself into what is perhaps the country’s most interesting neighborhood,” says Jesse Feldman, Gilmartin’s real estate partner on the project, based in Miami. “Brick & Timber Collective is focused on curating our properties as well as this unique neighborhood while keeping the spirit of Wynwood thriving. Given Canvas’ focus on curated fashion and technology, we see this brand as yet another business that is additive to the spirit, vibe, and artistry of Wynwood.”
Source: Forbes
