PHLUID AF./
NEW YORKER ROB GARRETT SMITH (HE/HIM) DECIDED TO DRAW FROM HIS 30-YEAR CAREER IN CORPORATE RETAIL TO CREATE SOMETHING SPECIAL IN THE CITY./ AS THE FOUNDER + CEO OF 'THE PHLUID PROJECT', ROB SUCCESSFULLY CREATED A RETAIL STORE THAT WAS NOT DIVIDED BY TRADITIONAL BINARY BOUNDARIES./
UPON ITS OPENING, THE PHLUID PROJECT HAD BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE FIRST 'GENDER-NEUTRAL STORE' - BUT IT WAS WAY MORE THAN THAT!/ TPP OFFERED A SAFE SPACE WHERE INDIVIDUALS WERE ENCOURAGED TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES OPENLY, WITHOUT JUDGEMENT OR FEAR, HOWEVER THEY IDENTIFY. AND WHILE TPP'S FLAGSHIP STORE HAS SINCE CLOSED, THE PROJECT ITSELF HAS EXPANDED, SPREADING ITS MESSAGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY./
IN AN INCREASINGLY CRAZY WORLD, WE LOVE THE POSITIVE MESSAGE THAT TPP ARE SHARING, SO WE ASKED ROB TO SHARE SOME OF HIS FAVOURITE PLACES IN NEW YORK CITY...
//
COOKSHOP
Cookshop prides itself on its commitment to seasonality + local sourcing, offering New Yorkers an honest, seasonal dining option: "My favourite go-to restaurant for healthy food + comfort food. Great to sit outside most of the year."
@cookshopnyc
LETTER J
"A really well curated men's store in West Chelsea." - Letter J is housed in a former gallery, offering casual yet sophisticated menswear. Rob admits, "It's hard to walk out of there without buying something special. Ask for Jason."
@letterjchelsea
CLUB CUMMING
When it comes to nightlife, Rob recommends the cosy East Village bar co-owned by actor Alan Cumming, known for its interesting events, from cabaret to knitting nights: "Drinks. Performances. Great vibe. And you never know when Alan might show up."
@clubcumming
All photos are copyright F1FTY, except: Rob Garrett Smith profile photo (Courtesy of Rob Garrett Smith); The Phluid Project (Instagram @thephluidproject); Club Cumming (Instagram @clubcumming); Cookshop (Instagram @cookshopnyc); Letter J (@letterjchelsea); Washington Square Park (Credit: Unsplash). This feature was not paid for in any way.