When Opening Ceremony first debuted in 2002 it stood out from the crowd immediately due to its unique infrastructure. The brand’s retail locations not only carried products under the Opening Ceremony moniker, but they also played house to a range of apparel and accessories from other designers. The label’s strong affinity for fashion was instantly clear thanks to its fusion of cultural influences from around the world, its steadfast devotion to design and it’s inclusive philosophies.

Who founded Opening Ceremony?

Opening Ceremony was founded by Humberto Leon and Carol Lim. The duo met as students at the University of California, Berkley and quickly became best friends thanks to a multitude of shared interests between them. Embarking on enterprise within the fashion sphere only cemented the twos friendship even further. Lim was initially inspired to start her own clothing line after an insightful trip to Hong Kong, where she embraced a wealth of new culture. September 2002 marked the moment where Carol and Humberto’s vision for the brand came to fruition.

The name Opening Ceremony is actually borrowed from the modern Olympics. The whole idea of the Olympics Opening Ceremony is to unite individuals from around the world whom all share an interest in sport. Lim and Leon’s Opening Ceremony concept works on the same basis in terms of a global reach, but within the realms of fashion.

Opening Ceremony Stores & The Opening Ceremony Aesthetic

The first OC store popped up in the Big Apple and was one of the first retail shops to carry Havaianas and Topshop products. New Yorkers, particularly those in the Soho area, were also first acquainted with esteemed international labels Alexander Wang, Comme des Garçons and Acne Studios via Opening Ceremony. Their stores contributed to the vibrant ambience of downtown culture, uniting likeminded individuals and their penchant for creativity.

Opening Ceremony’s own clothing line became a direct avenue for Lim and Leon to unleash their genius. Designs across the board were informed by the duo’s travels across the world, with the creatives filtering in cultural references, playful colourways and political themes into collections over the years. The Opening Ceremony box logo has became a hallmark of the brand’s identity and can be worn by surfers on the beaches of Cali, to the trend-conscious Japanese. The overriding OC aesthetic is all about inclusivity.

Who Has Opening Ceremony Collaborated With?

Collaborations are key to Opening Ceremony; past collabs include Coca-Cola, Dickies, adidas Originals, Columbia, Polo Ralph Lauren, Disney, Vans and many more ‘off-the-wall’ hook-ups. Through collaborations with other brands, Opening Ceremony has been able to form strong relationships with designers in order to enhance their reputation. Opening Ceremony has been able to further advertise their products which centre around loud statements about politics, cultures and people. “We wanted a brand that was non-judgemental and open for all… before gender-neural, or any of those terms were used… we were always about that… and we’ve never been shy of letting people know how we feel politically or what our stance is on world issues” and in all those ways, the label has always been ahead of their time.

Opening Ceremony Is Acquired by New Guards Group

Fast forward seven or so years and the company is now overseen by the New Guards Group, a vaunted cartel that also owns Off-white, Palm Angels and more. Operating a majority stake in the company, New Guard Group boast factories in Italy with locally sourced fabrics, meaning the quality and standard of OC’s garments has only risen since this acquisition while prices have remained reasonable. Humberto Leon and Carol Lim now work solely in-house, overseeing ready-to-wear capsules and accessories.

Since its inception, the brand has changed the way many people view fashion. Opening Ceremony proved that there’s room for everyone in the fashion world; while still looking out for ‘their own’, Humberto Leon and Carol Lim shared their venture with other creatives, offering emerging labels the chance to thrive via the platform they worked so hard to build. When you purchase an Opening Ceremony product you not only enhance your wardrobe, but you buy into the culture of the brand too. Opening Ceremony is more than just clothes.

Discover Opening Ceremony in-store & online at Aphrodite.