Chicago's New Player
Euro fashion arrives in the home of Da Bears
March 12, 2007—After a decade living in the Windy City and jet-setting to Europe every few weeks for gigs, producer and DJ Jeff Mills had come to three conclusions about the state of menswear in the Midwest: There was a lack of access to cutting-edge labels, a hole in the market between streetwear and traditional dress clothes, and too many of the pieces out there seemed cut more for a Bears linebacker than leaner fashion types. ("Those of us who wear a 44 or 46 have to shop in the younger boys' section here," Mills laughs.) He and partner Yoko Uozumi hope to remedy the situation with Gamma Player Shop, their new boutique in Wicker Park that will introduce Chicago to a rotating selection of obscure designers like Milan's Mojo Rising and ex-Kenzo upstart Gilles Rosier.
Mills calls Gamma Player a concept store, and he and Uozumi will carefully choreograph the contents of the pint-sized space each season: First they'll select a handful of men's and women's lines, and then bring in CDs, books, and a temporary artistic installation to reinforce the season's theme. For the opening, Mills has created a giant macramé wall hanging based on black holes—intended to convey the notion of designers abandoning rock in favor of futurism. As for the clothes? "Eventually I would like to get as experimental as I can with the menswear," he says. "But for spring we're starting out simple." And, one assumes, slim-fitting.
Gamma Player Shop, opens Thursday at 2035 West Division, Chicago, (773) 235-0755, www.gammaplayer.com.
— Monica Khemsurov