Opening Ceremony

Founded in 2002 by Carol Lim and Humberto Leon, Opening Ceremony was the hipster mecca where fashion met art and pretension—sorry, curation—in perfect harmony. The brand quickly became the darling of New York’s downtown scene, with its eclectic mix of avant-garde designers and collaborations that blurred the line between high fashion and streetwear. Lim and Leon parlayed their success into creative director roles at Kenzo, but the magic of Opening Ceremony’s early years began to wane as the market caught up with their once-revolutionary concept. The decision to close its physical stores in 2020 marked the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy of cool-kid cachet that helped define the look of a generation. But as the brand fades into the annals of fashion history, one can’t help but wonder if its real contribution was making exclusivity feel accessible, at least for those in the know.