If you’re a regular to IMBOLDN you know that we take streetwear and sneakers seriously. So when we came across The Darkside Initiative on a recent trip to San Francisco, we immediately knew we’d be making an addition to our list of must-see shops. Nestled on a quiet block in the city’s North Beach neighborhood, this unassuming store is filled with cult brands you can only find in a handful of shops in the US, limited releases from major footwear brands, and high quality hard-to-find streetwear. With long standing relationships with brands in Asia and Europe, The Darkside Initiative is able to offer new brands before most stores even know they exist, making it a must-visit for any sartorialist worth his salt. We spoke with General Manager Steve Halili about the store’s philosophy and where they’re headed.
How long has the store been around and what was the inspiration for opening it?
The doors to our store have been open on an unassuming block of Powell Street in the North Beach district of San Francisco since 2000, when we were originally known as the now defunct brand, Recon, that had satellite stores in both New York City and Tokyo. Due to the necessity of change and a different direction in business models we transitioned into The Darkside Initiative in 2007. Having never looked back, we are in a fortunate position to offer San Francisco some of the most sought after international/domestic streetwear brands and hyper limited top tiered footwear accounts.
What sets The Darkside Initiative apart from other men’s stores in SF?
In the 16 years we have been in business, The Darkside Initiative has set itself apart from other stores within San Francisco due to our drive to provide San Francisco with brands different from what other stores have to offer. We possess brands and products that aren’t readily available to the majority of consumers due to both limited production runs and small distribution. For example, the Japanese brands Neighborhood and WTaps are only offered in less than ten store fronts in the United States. These Japanese brands possess a cult like following, so often times, when we do release the latest offerings we sometimes sell out faster than anticipated and the demand for an item may outweigh the production numbers. Another example would be that often times we are the only retailer north of Los Angeles that carry a particular shoe style from Nike, Vans, or Adidas when it comes to certain limited releases. All in all we try to offer something a little different enough for you to come across the city and shop with us.
All in all we try to offer something a little different enough for you to come across the city and shop with us.
What are the most unique brands/products you carry?
We carry products that are not easily or readily available. Case in point, we were one of the first ever to carry Acronym when it started back in 2002. We have seen the brand grow steadily with a ever rising brand energy and have supported it for quite some time because they are always at the cutting edge on what constitutes apparel and what movement can be achieved through it. This example illustrates a small but very important portion of what we have to offer as far as brands and products we carry.
Who is The Darkside Initiative customer?
The Darkside Initiative customer spans a wide continuum from neighborhood kids who want the latest highly coveted shoe of the week, to young/old professionals who are seeking simple understated yet comfortable styles for their work day/night, to the tourist who geo-marked our location because they knew we carried a particular brand they couldn’t find back home, to the person who seeks quality pieces over quantitative fast fashion. Ultimately, our customer tends to seek clothes or shoes that aren’t easily or readily available, but want to be serviced in a manner that regards customer service as paramount.
Do you have any plans to expand?
We have pondered expansion in the past, but the opportunity has not presented itself. Looking forward, 2017 could potentially see a change in that previous outlook.
How do you determine which brands to carry?
Before we had the shoe accounts, we were strictly a clothing store. The shoe brands approached us with wanting to be in our store because the clothing brands we carry added value to their shoes. As far as figuring out what to buy for the store, we collectively make purchasing decisions as a team rather than one person being the designated buyer. The Darkside Initiative is a tight knit group effort that’s running a marathon rather than pushing for a sprint. We try to adhere to our philosophy of purchasing timeless pieces and styles that anyone can wear and be relevant 5-10 years from now. The old saying in our store goes, “If we wouldn’t wear it, why would it be in our store?”
Visit The Darkside Initiative at 1827 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94133