Bombinate to open first offline experience, The Hive
Bombinate, the online platform for men focused on heritage and craftsmanship, is to stage its first offline experience in the lead up to Christmas. "The Hive" will be a three-day pop-up to be held at The Truman Brewery over the first weekend in December.
The pop-up will allow customers to browse and shop a curated selection of Bombinate's partner brands, including some guest artisans, such as Italy's most remote eyewear maker and Scotland's finest ski-maker, while enjoying mulled wine and freshly brewed beer.
Jose Urrutia, co-founder of La Portegna, one of Bombinate’s British brands, said of the initiative: “There's an opportunity for The Hive to make a mark in people's perception of quality, and we want to be part of that change.”
Founded by childhood friends and entrepreneurs Elliott Aeschlimann and Massimiliano Gritti, Bombinate (the name is an ancient English word for the noise a bee makes) was launched in May of this year. The pair travelled throughout Europe and the UK in search of highly skilled, underrepresented artisan brands, to feature on the platform.
“These brands have committed their life’s work to quality, and deserve to finally find the limelight that will allow them to share their passion with the global audience that has been looking for them,” said Gritti.
The pair described the demise of craftsmanship as one of retail's "costliest mistakes" and said they were determined to repair some of the damage by bringing together "the next generation of Europe’s finest artisanal brands in the very the heart of London".
The Hive will run from 1-3 December at 4 Dray Walk, London E1 6QL from 10am to 10pm.
Read our interview with the Bombinate founders here.
Image (above): Malle London, Bombinate's first partner brand.