NEW YORK, Jul 16, 2014/ — Last night, H&M, Hennes & Mauritz, one of the world’s largest retailers opened its largest store in the world with Jeff Koons and The Whitney as hosts and Olivia Wilde and Ashley Benson as special guests.
Fashionistas and art fans alike came to the new store on Fifth Avenue at 48th Street to be the first to shop the new collection and the coveted Balloon Dog (Yellow) handbag. Jeff Koons, Olivia Wilde and Ashley Benson enjoyed food, drinks and a special performance by British sensation, Birdy.
“I’m very happy to be working with H&M. It’s really exciting to be celebrating the opening of their flagship store and I’m very proud the bag,” said Jeff Koons. Art is something that is accessible, we interact with it all the time and H&M makes fashion the same way.”
As a part of the Jeff Koons for H&M collaboration, H&M has created a specially-designed, limited-edition leather handbag featuring the Balloon Dog (Yellow), one of the artist’s most iconic works for just $49.95.
The Balloon Dog leather handbag will also be carried in select markets across the US including Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas, as well as online at hm.com beginning July 17th, 2014. A select number of pieces will also be sold at the Whitney Museum of American Art during the Retrospective as well as on Whitney.org.
“It’s so smart of H&M to pick an artist like Jeff Koons and to collaborate with the Whitney Museum, and vice versa”, stated Olivia Wilde at last night’s event with H&M and Jeff Koons.
“H&M is so versatile, you can get anything you want here and there are always styles for everybody,” said Ashley Benson who also attended last night’s event for H&M and Jeff Koons.
The store will open to the public at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 17th with a grand opening celebration.
On opening day the first 1,000 customers in line will receive an Access to Fashion Pass valued between $10 and $1000 as well as giveaways and the chance to win free passes to the Jeff Koons Retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art.
To further celebrate the grand opening, customers who bring garments to be recycled in H&M’s Garment Collecting program before the store opens will be entered to win gift cards valued between $50 and $100.
