Comme des Garçons (CDG) the “like boys” fashion over the years has won every girl’s and boy’s heart!  But there is a special place in Athens*GR in the Kolonaki shopping district where the “like boys” fashion has won our hearts! And I am not only referring to the fashion, but the shop interior and the wonderful owner as well; we are referring to no other than NUMBER 3!

NUMBER 3 opened in 2008 and it was the continuation of the Guerrilla store legacy by CDG in Athens.  The Comme des Garçons Guerrilla Store in Athens opened in 2006, while the second operated in 2007.  The CDG Guerrilla Stores first opened in 2004 in Berlin; the aim of the store was to operate for only a year.  The Guerrilla Stores spent minimal amounts of money on the interiors, throughout their operation, the most recent opened in the west end of Glasgow in November 2008 which was believed to be the last shop of this kind; and so it was!

With two previous Guerrilla stores in Athens which obviously closed due to the concept time restriction, here comes a store which belongs to the new generation stores by Comme des Garçons.  NUMBER 3 has respectfully gained its title of honor as well as its fans from the previous two Guerrilla Stores.  In the new generation stores by CDG for the first time the shop does not have to follow the design specifications as it was set forth for the Guerrilla Stores by Rei Kawakubo, the sole owner of CDG.  The new generation stores where an idea of Rei Kawakubo as she wanted to see how an entrepreneur could develop their new generation store by having the knowledge and the standards set forth from the previous stores.

NUMBER 3 was designed by Dimitris Papadopoulos the owner, along with Yiannis Kondilis, creative designer of K2design.  The concept behind NUMBER 3 started out with a simple idea in mind “white, light and bright.”  While on the other hand, they wanted to make reference to the existing interior of the former Guerrilla Store 2.  That is why half the shop is entirely white, while the other half is half finished.  The minimal interior design can metaphorically be compared to a white canvas craving to be painted; such is the interior which only demonstrates the dynamics of the shop once the CDG clothing and accessories are presented within.  

Their main idea which was set as a goal “white, light and bright,” has been accomplished; the atmosphere has been set with mirrors, the cool white interior walls and flooring, as well as the fluorescent lighting.    Regarding the clothing and the accessories, let me not start because I’ll never finish!  For the past two years we’re happy to have the new generation CDG store in Athens and we only hope that our “like boys” fashion continues this way.  Way to go NUMBER 3!