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  1. Catering & Design
  2. Event Design & Decor

Shop Talk

London's Camden Market served as the inspiration for a Target shopping event that previewed the McQ collection, a collaboration with designer Alexander McQueen.

Anna Sekula
February 16, 2009

Even without a brick-and-mortar presence in Manhattan, Target has always found creative and unexpected ways to set up temporary residence to showcase its latest designer collaboration. Last September, the department store created four "Bullseye Bodegas" for a slew of partners—from Converse and Liz Lange to Thomas O'Brien and John Derian—but this time around, the chain focused its efforts on one collection—an Alexander McQueen-designed line of clothing.

The chilly weather on Friday night didn't stop hordes of editors, bloggers, designers, and models from making the trek to SoHo's St. John's Center for the V.I.P. preview party. Decked out with clothing racks, commissioned artwork, changing rooms, and registers, the enormous warehouse space also served as the site for a two-day public shopping event on Saturday and Sunday. To tie into the heritage of the London-born designer and his inspiration for the line, production company OBO created street-vendor-style stalls modeled after London's famed Camden Market and a stage for British rock band the Duke Spirit.

Echoing the grungy, makeshift stores of Camden Market, the production team used chain-link fences, corrugated metal panels, graffiti, and posters from the ad campaign inside the venue. Photos, video installations, and other artwork added to the bohemian atmosphere and boosted marketing taglines like "London looks, underground prices." Even the changing rooms and the register area held decorative tie-ins to this motif—pink and black fabric from the collection served as curtains in the fitting area, while artful graffiti tagged the wall behind the checkout counters.

Aside from encouraging guests to part with cash, Target also supplied entertainment—a DJ and a crowd-pleasing performance by McQueen's muse the Duke Spirit—as well as nibbles and booze from Great Performances.

Target's McQ Market
Target's McQ Market
Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash
Target's bull's-eye logo adorned heavy plastic strips at the entrance to the McQ Market.
Target's bull's-eye logo adorned heavy plastic strips at the entrance to the McQ Market.
Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash
Posters from the McQ Alexander McQueen for Target ad campaign surrounded commissioned artwork from Brooklyn-based artist K8 Hardy.
Posters from the McQ Alexander McQueen for Target ad campaign surrounded commissioned artwork from Brooklyn-based artist K8 Hardy.
Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash
Clothing stalls around the perimeter of the main room held racks of the McQ collection.
Clothing stalls around the perimeter of the main room held racks of the McQ collection.
Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash
Other pieces of art combined video with cloth from the collection.
Other pieces of art combined video with cloth from the collection.
Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash
The installation from Eteam mixed drywall sheets with some of the McQ clothing and a mixed-media projection.
The installation from Eteam mixed drywall sheets with some of the McQ clothing and a mixed-media projection.
Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash
Even the DJ booth had a grungy look, albeit with Target's logos emblazoned on the front.
Even the DJ booth had a grungy look, albeit with Target's logos emblazoned on the front.
Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash
Mimicking distressed walls found in old rock clubs, the event's bars were covered with posters for the night's performers.
Mimicking distressed walls found in old rock clubs, the event's bars were covered with posters for the night's performers.
Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash
Graffiti decorated the wall behind the registers.
Graffiti decorated the wall behind the registers.
Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash
Great Performances served a variety of food and drinks, including a hot cider beverage accompanied by a stick of cinnamon.
Great Performances served a variety of food and drinks, including a hot cider beverage accompanied by a stick of cinnamon.
Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash
Brit rock band the Duke Spirit served as Alexander McQueen's muse for the collection and performed at the V.I.P. preview party.
Brit rock band the Duke Spirit served as Alexander McQueen's muse for the collection and performed at the V.I.P. preview party.
Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash
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