African Diaspora Goods: A Cultural Hub Transforming SoHo

Store Information

Address: 176 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
Hours: Monday - Saturday 11am - 7pm | Sunday 12pm - 6pm
Phone: (646) 386-7637
Website: denimtears.com/stories/african-diaspora-goods

African Diaspora Goods represents far more than a traditional retail space. Opening its doors on March 15, 2024, this flagship store for Denim Tears has established itself as a groundbreaking cultural hub in the heart of SoHo, New York City. The space transcends conventional shopping by weaving together fashion, literature, art, and community engagement into a singular, transformative experience.

The Vision Behind the Space

Founded by Tremaine Emory in 2019, Denim Tears has consistently explored themes of Black identity and heritage through fashion. The African Diaspora Goods store embodies this mission in physical form, serving as what Emory describes as a continuation of the brand's commitment to "using fashion as a vehicle for education, storytelling, and community engagement for the African diaspora."

The choice of location carries deep personal significance for Emory. The 176 Spring Street address previously housed influential streetwear brands Union and Stüssy—brands that helped shape Emory's development as a fashion designer and cultural curator.

A Collaboration with Theaster Gates

The store's unique character emerges from an extraordinary collaboration between Emory and renowned multidisciplinary artist Theaster Gates. Known internationally for his work in sculpture, urban planning, and community development, Gates brings decades of experience in archiving and making Black cultural artifacts publicly accessible.

Gates, who founded the celebrated Stony Island Arts Bank in Chicago—a restored 1920s bank building transformed into a 17,000-square-foot cultural center—applied similar principles to the African Diaspora Goods project. His approach centers on what he calls "the creation of cultural communities by acting as catalysts for social engagement that leads to political and spatial change."

The Research Library: A Treasure Trove of Knowledge

One of the store's most remarkable features is its comprehensive research library, housing over 1,500 publications related to African arts and culture. This collection, meticulously curated by Lee and Whitney Kaplan of Arcana: Books on the Arts, represents four decades of scholarly and artistic documentation.

The library includes:

• Books documenting the visual and performative cultures of Indigenous peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa
• Exhibition catalogs from galleries and museums worldwide
• Periodicals published across Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Asia
• Materials assembled from the libraries of major collectors, academics, art dealers, and publishers

According to Arcana Books, this collection "serves as a physical testament to Denim Tears' genuine commitment to storytelling" and represents "one of the most significant American collections of such documentation within a non-institutional setting."

Educational Mission and Community Impact

African Diaspora Goods positions itself as a laboratory for learning and cultural exchange. The space regularly hosts educational programming, with plans for expanded cultural initiatives throughout the year in partnership with Emory's media company.

The store's design creates what visitors describe as "a welcoming environment for individuals from all backgrounds," fostering dialogue, reflection, and connection through both its fashion offerings and archival resources. This approach reflects Gates' philosophy that community spaces should serve as platforms where "the past and present converge."

About the Collaborators

Tremaine Emory founded Denim Tears in 2019 with a mission to tell deeper stories about the African diaspora through fashion. His work has earned recognition through collaborations with major brands including Ugg, Stüssy, Champion, Converse, ASICS, and Dior, with pieces featured in The Met Costume Institute's permanent collection.

Theaster Gates (b. 1973) is an internationally renowned artist, archivist, and urban planner based in Chicago. His practice focuses on transforming abandoned spaces into cultural centers, most notably the Stony Island Arts Bank, which he acquired from the city of Chicago for $1 and transformed into a world-class cultural facility. Gates has received numerous awards, including the Nasher Sculpture Prize (2018), and was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 2021.

Visiting the Space

African Diaspora Goods invites visitors to experience fashion as a form of cultural education. Whether browsing Denim Tears' seasonal collections or exploring the extensive research library, guests encounter a unique fusion of commerce and culture that challenges traditional retail concepts.