Upon entering the doors of the recently opened fashion boutique, Assembly, located at Dallas' West Village shopping center, it is instantly apparent to me that this is going to be a different experience than some of the typical boutique stores that Dallas has to offer. Immediately greeted with warm smiles and genuine interest by the staff of this upscale store with a laid back, friendly, and relaxed vibe, Assembly is developing a strong foothold of providing an excellent experience for its burgeoning fashion-forward clientele.
Assembly is the brainchild of owner Kurt Haymond. When it comes to fashion, Haymond has worked his way through the ranks of the retail world, having steadily paid his dues earning his fashion stripes in the effort to immerse himself in the culture and knowledge of the apparel and style industry. When asked, he can weave together an inspiring road map of his life in fashion, beginning with an accidental twist of fate. In his early twenties, Haymond designed a tee shirt and some jewelry as a gift for a friend. "She had all of these people asking her where she got them, and instantly I had 80 placements for orders. It all happened quite by accident," Haymond confided. "All of a sudden, at twenty-one, I found myself with my own business. It was a very exciting time."
Kurt later learned to refine his taste and style while working for Calvin Klein. "It provided me with a cleaner, more conservative way of looking at refining my style as an adult. That experience definitely shaped who I am today, the things I look for in clothing, and what I like," says Haymond. "It shows in the selections I make for the clothing I want featured in Assembly." Following his stint at Calvin Klein, he worked extensively as a freelance wardrobe stylist and image consultant both independently and for a few Texas retail chains. Although the variety and creativity of the work was essentially pleasing, the constant traveling began to make him feel the need to establish more permanent roots. "The thought began to creep into my head that opening my own store was something I should do for myself. I always had people asking where did I buy this, or where did I find that? I thought to myself, why not establish a place where everyone can get all of the great clothing they love all in one concept? That's when the idea of Assembly began."
Assembly, which offers both women's and men's apparel, takes its style inspiration by its surroundings and clientele. "I waited around for a year for this space. I absolutely love being located in the West Village. It's very fresh, urban, stylish, and vibrant," Haymond says. "I'm very inspired by the people that have come in. I have met some of the friendliest people ever, and that feeds into the energy of the store. We have a good time here, and it shows. We want people to come in, have a great time, and leave excited that they can come here to buy pieces that craft their personal style without breaking the bank. The Dallas market is very well represented with high-fashion labels and lines that only a minority of the population can afford. I want to offer superior denim pieces and high-quality contemporary lines for both women and men that 95 percent of the population could attain." With that in mind, Assembly is mostly anchored by its offerings of premium but affordable denim lines. Most Dallas denim aficionados will recognize labels within the store like Adriano Goldschmied and Joe's Jeans, but those who want to be a little more ahead of the mark will surely take note of more recent designer labels like Justin Timberlake's clothing line, William Rast, which Assembly has a generous selection of for both women and men.
In addition to its stylish denim lines, Assembly has much to offer in the way of that perfect weekend outfit, whether you're the guy looking for that unique button-down shirt, jeans, and stylish jacket, or you're the girl looking for that great little cocktail dress and perfect pumps. When browsing through the store, guys will find both conservative and rock and roll inspired fashion-forward pieces from brands like Modern Amusement, French Connection, and Salvage, while the girls can find tastefully selected pieces from Orchid, Gold and Hawke, Da-Nang, and a selection of formal pieces from Nicole Miller and Marc Bouwer Glamit!.
If you're apprehensive about making your selections or are unsure of what you may be looking for, the friendly staff at Assembly will be more than glad to be of assistance. "We want to help our clientele stay current," Haymond says. "We come to work and we love what we do, and helping people to look their best and have a good time just fuels our energy. Our goal is for people to come in and get 5 star service and leave happy." For Assembly, the future does indeed look happy and bright. "We're very blessed. We love our customers, our product, and the service we provide. All we can hope for is to continue that success." After multiple visits within Assembly's doors and receiving their warm reception and detailed attention every time, I have the feeling they'll have all the continued success they can hope for.
Assembly is located in the West Village shopping center at 3699 McKinney Ave Dallas, TX 75204, or visit them online at www.worldofassembly.com.
