Retail, Reconsidered: William White Emporium on Canal Street in NYC
This past fall, designer William Cooper opened William White Emporium on Canal Street as a physical extension of his clothing and interiors brand, William White. An alum of Ralph Lauren and former creative director of ASH NYC, Cooper approaches the emporium less as a conventional store than as a proposition: grocery and café, newsstand and clothing, home goods and furniture, arranged without hierarchy.
The interiors are industrial but polished, encouraging browsing rather than directing it. The premise is one of range rather than nostalgia—an interest in what happens when categories blur and discovery is left intact. In an era of single-lane retail, the emporium embraces multiplicity, inviting visitors to browse and maybe leave with something they didn’t know they were looking for. Everything on view, including the furniture, can be bought straight off the floor.
That range is reflected in the offering. The emporium carries William White clothing: a concise, unisex collection made from fine Italian and Japanese fabrics, cut and sewn in New York City’s Garment District. Furniture designs—including a recent collaboration with Cabana Magazine—sit alongside an edited selection of ceramics, glassware, baskets, and lighting. Each category holds its own, reinforcing the idea that good design isn’t confined to a single discipline but moves easily between them.
Photography by Brett Wood courtesy of William White.
Above: A (useable) cafe table and window full of vintage finds among William White clothing.
Above: A newsstand at left and dining table decorated with topiaries at center.
Above: Coffee, Viennese pastries, and cold drinks at the cafe counter.
Above: A mix of favorite and obscure grocery items for an accessible snack on Canal Street or quick pantry restock.
Above: Italian William White ceramics include the Zodiac Plates with hand-painted designs based on original artwork by Boris Brucher; glassware handblown in Cairo, Egypt; and ceramic candelabras.
Above: Zodiac plates on display along with a vintage table on wheels and chairs (complete with chair back covers).
Above: Antique rugs and textiles, woven grass baskets, and a selection of products from Santa Maria Novella.
Above: Racks of alpaca and corduroy coats and hand-knit cashmere accessories on the coffee table.
Above: A living room-like space composed with the stackable Duvet Chair from William White, a modular seating system in a range of corduroy and simple cotton.
Above: William Cooper out front of his own shop—”a childhood dream” he describes.
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