KILLSPENCER Pop-Up Visit

Just in time for the holidays, KILLSPENCER opened its doors to a new pop-up located in the Westside of Los Angeles. Upon receiving the invite for their launch event, I knew immediately that this was an event that I would not want to miss. I’ve watched the brand grow and emerge through the past couple of years and have had the opportunity to meet Spencer on a couple of occasions, most recently at a Leica event where he was showcasing his Precision camera bag. As a fan of his work in which style and design details reign supreme, I could only imagine the level of event planning that took place for this launch.

In typical LA fashion, on display parked curbside, the guys from Platinum Motorsports had brought their new Liberty Walk widebody Ferrari 458 Italia fresh from the LA Auto Show. Also in front of the event was a food truck (of course).

The exterior of the pop-up was unassuming albeit for frosted windows and simple KILLSPENCER branding on the front door. An old mattress store had been converted into a clean gallery space to house goods from KILLSPENCER and a few select brands. How do I know this was once a mattress store? Well the bright neon “Mattress” sign was a dead giveaway that sat above the bar. The interior had been renovated and resembled a beautiful modern art gallery, which is to be expected from the Art Center College of Design graduate. Guests were able to touch and feel the supple materials of the leather collections in person, throw a few punches at the boxing kit, and try their best Kobe imitation while attempting shots at the KILLSPENCER hoop.

The problem with holiday shopping is that finding the perfect present is always a chore, especially for the person who has everything. Luckily, the luxury goods maker’s collection of travel, athletics, camera, iPhone, and women’s product that was on display was a good start. There were many products that I would love to have in my possession. Some for a utility purpose, such as the Special Ops backpack, and some just for the sake of having an awesome display piece, like the black leather football, which could be used, but would simply look great in my office space.

Taking center stage in the store was a collaborative installation from Cyrcle art collective. The art piece featured nine custom KILLSPENCER mini indoor basketball kits with artwork. It was for sale, yet I didn’t inquire about pricing (easily more than I could afford). Single indoor basketball kits are available with either a matte black rim or a 24kt gold rim. I added the matte black version to my holiday list and crossed my fingers.

The scene was set as I rubbed shoulders with an eclectic group of Angelenos who were well dressed, sipping cocktails and coffee, and full of smiles as they chatted amongst themselves. Music played lightly in the background provided by Jeremy Sole, a bearded DJ with thick glasses that slightly bobbed while he bounced to the beat entertaining guests. An open bar offered signature libations made with spiced rum that was so smooth and refreshing that before I knew it I had downed at least four of these delicious drinks. Thankfully, the aroma of freshly ground coffee beans filled the air and I was made aware of the coffee that was also being served. The Dime coffee baristas worked diligently to hand-grind the beans and provide the perfect pour of a flat white. The steamed milk had a velvety consistency as it sat atop the double shot of espresso and warmed my belly with each sip.

As a photographer and someone who appreciates clean design, I really dug the curation of additional hand-selected products that were on display including items from Taschen, Maison Louis Marie and more. Everything was available for purchase including the beautiful hand-crafted furniture. The elegant Grant Knits cashmere rug caught my attention as it warmed up the empty space and concrete floors.

As with many good things, this KILLSPENCER pop-up location popped down and went back to mattresses or whatever. But for a moment in time, Spencer killed it and threw one long party to remember.