Luxury is constantly evolving, with consumers questioning the increasing prices and decreasing quality of luxury goods. The year 2025 marked a major reset in the industry, with creative directors moving between fashion houses and the merging of fashion with other industries like film and art. In the midst of this shift, Jesse Lee, the founder of Basic.Space, saw an opportunity to bring together design, art, and fashion in a unique way.
Lee’s second edition of Basic.Space’s IRL to URL sales fair was designed to showcase the platform’s offerings in a physical space for a limited time. The event took place at SoHo’s 575 Broadway, just above Prada’s flagship store. The fair attracted a mix of New York’s fashion, design, and art elite, with notable names like actor Danny Trejo, photographer Ellen Von Unwerth, artist Dustin Yellin, and designer Heron Preston in attendance.
The concept of redefining luxury for a younger audience has always been a driving force for Lee, who launched Basic.Space five years ago with a focus on vintage fashion. Over the years, the platform has expanded to include design, furniture, and art, catering to a more diverse range of tastes. Lee’s acquisitions of Design Miami and Platform have further solidified Basic.Space’s presence in the art and design world.
The platform’s ethos revolves around collaborating with individuals who have a keen eye for style, allowing them to curate their own collections and projects. These collaborations often result in unique and innovative pieces, such as the furniture tie-up between Virgil Abloh and Vitra. The New York fair featured collaborations between fashion designer Kris Van Assche and François Laffanour’s Galerie Downtown, as well as A-Cold-Wall’s Samuel Ross exhibiting furniture with Friedman Benda.
Investors in Basic.Space include industry veterans like former Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri, Tom Ford chair Domenico De Sole, and former Louis Vuitton CEO Michael Burke. With a focus on quality, innovation, and collaboration, Basic.Space continues to push the boundaries of luxury in the ever-changing landscape of the industry.
