Alife Shuts Down After 22 Years on the Lower East Side
Alife, the seminal streetwear brand born on the Lower East Side, is closing its flagship store on Rivington Street and leaving the neighborhood. The shutter draws a curtain on more than two decades of retail in the neighborhood.
Alife’s General Manager Treis Hill revealed the news on Instagram late-day yesterday, thanking everyone “that helped make it magic” for so many years.
No reason was given.
“It was more than just a retail store, it was a meeting ground for downtown’s youth,” Hill reflected in the statement.
“There isn’t a person of influence in streetwear today that has not stepped foot in the shop,” Hill said. “It was more than just a retail store, it was a meeting ground for downtown’s youth, it played host to countless live concerts from Drake, Nas, John Mayer, King Krule. It raised a generation of creatives.”
Alife was founded in 1999 by four friends — Arnaud Delecolle, Tony Arcabascio, Tammy Brainard, and Rob Cristofaro. Originally a creative workshop located at 178 Orchard Street, Alife’s innovative designs and propelled them into an internationally renowned streetwear clothing brand and boutique. The boutique eventually moved to its current “Club” spot alongside ABC No Rio on Rivington Street.
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