LAAMS

We love the delicious chaos of new downtown NYC: the burgeoning shops, the groovy bars and restaurants. Look a little closer and you’ll find a skateboarder’s paradise, a no-man’s land of ideas and dreams hatched in the shadow of the Manhattan Bridge.

LAAMS is a store, gallery, and creative club in the middle of Orchard Street’s busiest section. Its mission is to serve a slice of the hybridity of skater culture, a sweet spot between streetwear, art, and community.

DJs spin records, books on LES culture line the shelves, and art by local artists featuring icons of funk, hip-hop, and old-school cinema adorn the walls. Vintage clothing is on sale upstairs. There’s even the occasional tattoo pop-up.

Lately, the space has been partnering with brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Nike. Far from selling out, we’re excited that the place has a better chance of survival. We can’t imagine the neighborhood without it.

LAAMS is put together by three friends who grew up hanging out in the neighborhood. Founded by Scott Selvin, the space is inspired by a childhood spent hanging around Supreme, Alife, and Prohibit. He works with store/artist relations manager Stevie Baker and creative director Joe Ro, whose black-and-white, hand-stitched photography books are collector's items in their own right. Their collaboration is a living, breathing example of how this community flourished in the first place.