Another shop is coming to Highland Park Village, and this one is a first for the Dallas shopping center. Bandier opens November 8, offering local fitness enthusiasts myriad choices for fashionable activewear. Its also the first one in Texas.
The brand has three other stores in New York and counts celebrities such as Lena Dunham, Liv Tyler, Mariska Hargitay, and the Kardashians among its clients. The Dallas outpost is the fourth.
Looking outside New York for a new store location, founder Jenn Bandier chose Highland Park Village after a visit last December.
“Our goal is to open stores in the most beautiful destination retail spaces around the world; therefore, Highland Park Village is the perfect location for us,” she says. “Dallas is an extremely active city, and we are excited to introduce the community to a new way of shopping for fitness apparel.”
Bandier carries activewear tops, bottoms, bras, and shoes, as well as accessories such as a small gym bag by Stella McCartney for $170. The average price point is $90.
“We curate the best selects from emerging and established activewear brands from around the world,” Bandier says. “In stark contrast to mono-brand retailers such as Nike or Lululemon, women can try on more than 40 brands and experiment with styling and fit [at Bandier].”
Designed by NYC-based Two One Two Design, the Dallas store boasts a clean, modern aesthetic. There is a listening station, in partnership with Beats By Dre, where visitors can tune in to Bandier playlists. A lightbox in the front of the store is fitted with inspirational quotes where shoppers can snap social media photos of a new outfit.
The brand came about after Bandier suffered a broken foot and found herself limited to workout clothes for weeks on end. She was bored with the selection out there.
“I realized how limited my options were,” she says. “I wasn’t finding things that represented my personal style. As I started to explore other brands, I realized that there are amazing advancements in fit, design, fabrics, and technology. I wanted activewear that fit into my lifestyle and allowed me to express myself.”
Lest anyone think these clothes are for fashion only, Bandier is quick to point out that everything sold in the boutiques is made to stand up to a tough gym trip.
“All items we sell have to fit well and perform during a workout,” she says. “I choose collections that speak to me and that represent personal style, and we are increasingly working with brands that create exclusive merchandise for Bandier.”
