IN STORES NOW: DAWANG Makes Its Debut at Flying Solo

Since 2018, DAWANG has relied on the vast expanses of the Internet—the 21st century land of opportunity—to build our community and share our vision. Now, we're crossing over to the physical world, where you can now find us in person at Flying Solo's flagship store, right in our hometown of New York City. Read on to learn more about Flying Solo's mission and what this partnership means for DAWANG as an independent label.

Who (or What) is Flying Solo?

Long story short, Flying Solo is an experiential retailer—a fashion co-op—that provides a 7000-square-foot retail space in New York City's famous (yet notoriously expensive) SoHo for independent designers.

Founded in 2016 by jewelry designer Elizabeth Solomeina, Flying Solo's humble beginnings originated from the woes of Solomeina herself and her fellow designer friends, who all needed a space to showcase their wares without dumping copious amounts of money on rent. The result was a boutique on Mulberry Street in NoLIta, crowdfunded by the then-34 designers themselves. Since then, Flying Solo has relocated to the heart of SoHo and expanded its roster to carry over 70 brands, with demand from designers for a space in the store growing exponentially each season.

That said, "Flying Solo" is something of a misnomer: its business model and philosophy is exactly the opposite of the difficulties that come with going solo. By offering opportunities for independent designers to showcase their designs in spaces that would be impossible to reach alone, Flying Solo rejects the 'every man for himself,' survival-of-the-fittest approach to growth in favor of an environment where independent designers can coexist in harmony, and from there, flourish.

What This Means for DAWANG

Of thousands of designers that apply to be a part of the Flying Solo family each season, DAWANG was recognized for our unique approach to modern chinoiserie and chosen as one of only 100 brands to present at Flying Solo's stores and events. With the base provided by Flying Solo and the vision provided by us, we're just as excited as you for the new opportunities and horizons that await DAWANG in the future. More than just another retailer, Flying Solo provides a platform—perhaps the most powerful tool of all—for independent designers such as DAWANG, an initiative we're honored to be a part of.

DAWANG is now at Flying Solo's flagship SoHo store on 420 W Broadway—come visit us!

Still stuck in cyberspace? Shop DAWANG's FW '20 Collection online now

Read more about Flying Solo and its mission to propel independent designers to fashion's front burner:

New York Magazine: The Store (It Would Seem) Is Not Dead (At Least For Now)

WWD: Flying Solo Is Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts

Fashion Week Online: Flying Solo Unites 63 Designers from 14 Countries to Showcase Over 200 Looks

The New York Times: For Indie Designers, Uniting Is a Survival Skill