Claire Distenfeld
Owner, Five Story
With her father, the gallerist opened a boutique stocking up-and-comers like Peter Pilotto that has quickly become an uptown favourite.
Since launching luxury boutique Fivestory in April 2012, Claire Distenfeld’s unerring eye for emerging talent and skilfully curated range of wares from under-the-radar designers such as Rosie Assoulin , Rosetta Getty, Ellery and Brandon Maxwell has cemented the fledgling boutique as New York’s fashion hotspot.
Co-founded with father Fred Distenfeld, who oversees the business aspect of the boutique, Fivestory is cut from the same ilk of concept stores such as Colette in Paris and 10 Corso Como in Milan. Housed in a traditional brownstone, Distenfeld’s Upper East Side offering presents its eclectic mix of designer-wear, jewellery, home decor and baby clothing in an artfully laid out space designed by interior design guru Ryan Korban. Set over two floors, the boutique also houses a special mezzanine area reserved for a shoe ‘garden.'
In late 2012 Distenfeld started fielding orders for products by posting pictures on Instagram. An instant success, orders quickly came in for products such as Giambattista Valli shoes and Olympia Le Tan clutches. As the business grows, Fivestory has launched a private-label capsule collection featuring pieces made in collaboration with artisans.
A graduate of New York City University, Distenfeld completed a bachelor's degree in fine arts before moving to Paris for a year abroad. After obtaining a master's degree in contemporary art from Sotheby’s Institute of Art, the young retailer completed an internship with photographer Sante D’Orazio and worked in an art gallery in Chinatown prior to founding her store.
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