Inside the Industry: Meet OKC fashion hub 1032 Space

Pronounced “ten thirty-two” and located at the corner of NE 2nd Street and Oklahoma Avenue in the Deep Deuce district of downtown Oklahoma City, 1032 Space opened its doors in October of 2018 and offers a curated selection of established and emerging designer brands from across the globe. Beyond being a luxury store, 1032 has established a home for the greater Oklahoma City fashion community.

The store began with its focus mostly aimed at a younger male audience into high-end streetwear, but has grown into a more inclusive space that should appeal to almost anyone who follows the zeitgeist of fashion and the culture that comes with it. 

“I could say that the store is a general multi-brand clothing store that leans more streetwear / contemporary, but I feel like that is the most general explanation of it,” says owner Caleb Fountain. “In a more expansive sense, we have everything from brands similar to what you would find at an Urban Outfitters, like Pleasures and Brain Dead, and then we go upward into designer pieces.”

1032 also carries a variety of lifestyle and home products from niche brands that match the standards and taste levels of those who are seeking out this genre of clothing. Your introduction into a larger, more intentional lifestyle can all start with a graphic tee. If you are buying nicer clothes, you’re likely to care about how you feel in those pieces, and may want to create an environment where you feel connected to each of the elements that create that feeling. Fashion is not just about the clothes, after all — it expands into skincare, candles, furniture, art and all of the related pieces that contribute to having a life rooted in intentionality.

“When I was in high school, I could wear a certain pair of sneakers when I played basketball to signify that I knew about sneaker culture,” says Fountain. “Then my interest in sneakers began to progress into clothing, then designers — and then the overall lifestyle that comes as an extension of these interests.”

Thanks to the internet, it’s fairly easy to find information about new and trending aspects of fashion, even as some aspects have remained relatively removed from the Oklahoma retail fashion world.

“When I was becoming interested in brands, whether that be designer or underground brands circa 2014, [they were] only accessible online or in major cities like New York or L.A., maybe Chicago or Miami, but it was not very common. Being born and raised in Oklahoma, I ran into that experience: If I found something I wanted, I knew I would not be able to find it in-person anywhere near me,” Fountain remembers.

In Oklahoma, the fashion retail industry is still small enough that customers can walk into a store and see merchandise, but not know how it got there or where it came from. Shoppers might not even think to ask these questions. Fountain was exposed to this idea when he got his start in clothing retail at another local store, Blue Seven, and then at The Factory until its close in 2017. 

“You hear people talk about going to trade shows in Las Vegas, L.A. or NYC,” he says, “and then it becomes understood that there are these conventions each season where a brand can present new designs to those within this industry.”

This works for a majority of retail, but reaching brands that are more exclusive requires a little more effort. At 1032 Space, many of the brand relationships are made and maintained during showroom meetings at Paris Fashion Week.

“Going to Paris is a gesture of seriousness to show your commitment to a brand; that the store has the right intentions behind wanting to carry and represent their brand,” says Fountain. “I don’t just go because it is fun and cool” —though it is — “but because I am investing in the reputation and future of our store, which solidifies the relationships with the brands and the people behind it. It’s like a trust fall.” 

Having this access into the larger world of fashion on a global scale provides a fresh level of inspiration and influence from some of the most important fashion players each season.

“I was able to go to places that only exist in Paris, France, and experience a culture that is totally different than America, let alone Oklahoma City. This helps inform our direction for the store — including everything from our store layout to our merchandise to our customer service.”

Beyond picking up a piece similar to what you may be able to find at the mall or one totally unique, the experience of shopping from a luxury retailer at an accessible price point continues to set 1032 apart from other local retailers. “I remember the first time I bought a luxury item at a luxury store and what it felt like to be treated with that level of service. Getting the full white-glove treatment through shopping at a high-end retailer made me realize I had never experienced anything like it. Here we are able to provide that level of service no matter what you purchase.”

When you enter the store, you are welcomed by cream-colored walls, white oak shelving and concrete floors contrasted by “1032 green” hangers evenly spaced on brushed steel clothing racks that trace the perimeter of the store. The store was remodeled in 2022 in collaboration with the OKC/NYC based furniture and object company Studio Artifact.

“The Scandinavian style of architecture doesn’t exist much in OKC, so we’re able to be a portal,” says Fountain. The store is also currently hosting a curated selection of home good pieces for sale from the store Art. Object. Design. Having a modular interior, 1032 remains in a constant state of change. The goal is that you never experience the same store twice, even though it might contain some of the same furniture and merchandise.

“I want our existence to be a source of inspiration to someone; that they can create a business like this here and it can succeed,” says Fountain. “We’re trying to be a platform instead of a secret society. OKC is pretty small, so we get to connect people through a common interest in an accessible way. A place where you can meet someone and have that moment where you click and go, ‘How do we not already know each other?’”  • 

To stay up to date with the newest merchandise, displays and events, stop by the store, follow along on social media (@1032space) or shop online at 1032space.com.