Kujten, a Paris-based luxury cashmere brand, will open its first U.S. flagship on Madison Avenue this fall.
The company, founded by Carole Benaroya and Stéphanie Eriksson, has inked a deal for a three-level, 4,400-square-foot store at 831 Madison Ave. The space, on 69th Street, had formerly housed Akris. It is expected to open on Sept. 9, right before the kickoff of New York Fashion Week.
Kujten was created in 2012 by Benaroya and Eriksson, who had met in school as teenagers. Benaroya opted for a career in finance and began her career at Goldman Sachs in London while Eriksson studied fashion and joined the British fashion brand Joseph.
The friends reconnected in their 30s and decided to create a high-end brand focused on basic and statement cashmere pieces offered in an array of colors. They named it Kujten after the highest peak in Mongolia, a spot the founders visit several times a year to hand-select the finest raw materials.
Stéphanie Eriksson and Carole Benaroya
Sylvia Galmot
It aims to offer timeless, modern, elegant pieces that can be worn every day. As Eriksson said: “I’ve always been a little frustrated that I only had three or four colors to choose from when I was buying cashmere. With Kujten, we have a beautiful color palette so our items can be worn every day.”
Among its key pieces are sweaters, sweatshirts, vests, cardigans, capes, jackets, dresses, pants, shorts and hoodies for women and men as well as accessories and a children’s collection.
Sustainability is also a hallmark of the brand and in 2021, Kujten obtained the Sustainable Fibre Alliance ranking that certifies a company’s respect for the environment and social responsibility. In 2019, the brand launched Kujten Organic, an eco-responsible men’s and women’s line that uses no dyes or chemical components and promotes the manufacture of organic cashmere in Mongolia.
The brand operates more than 50 stores in Europe but this marks the first move into the U.S. market, which makes up a sizable portion of its international sales. The brand created a capsule with the L.A. tattoo artist Dr. Woo last year.
“The search for the ideal location was complex as the vacancy rate on Madison Avenue has been decreasing drastically over the past few years,” said Eric Le Goff, head of luxury for Retail by MONA, the retail leasing and advisory firm that represented Kutjen. “It was a challenge to identify the perfect space for Kutjen that combined the right square footage, premier storefront, and most importantly, the right neighbors for the brand such as Toteme and Khaite.”
Le Goff said if the store is successful, the plan is to continue to open stores around the country.
