New clothing store sets up shop on Cookman
'Fly Standards' totes attire for surf, skate and urban lifestyles
A new high-end clothing and consignment store recently opened its doors in Asbury Park.
“Fly Standards” sells “urban street wear, surf wear and skate wear” according to co-owner Chris Valdes. The store’s name comes from an urban reference that defines something being cool as “fly.”
“It’s a lifestyle boutique,” Valdes said.
Valdes, 25, from Marlboro, opened the store on July 4 with his partners, 23-year-old Frank Richardson of Freehold and 34-year old T.J. Eaton of Somerville. They celebrated the store’s grand opening mid-July.
The store sells men’s and women’s clothing and accessories direct from distributors and also has items for sale on consignment. Current inventory includes niche-market high-end brands like Dicks Cottons, Publish, BGRT, Stance and more, according to a recent press release. In addition, the young entrepreneurs hope to spotlight emerging designers from around the area.
Its interior design incorporates both urban and beach elements. Graffiti-style and modern art pieces adorn the walls and there is a hammock — dubbed the “fly swing” — customers are welcomed to relax in.
Valdes became acquainted with his partners through what they call the “sneaker game,” where collectors buy, sell and trade high-end sneakers.
A lot of the time deals between collectors who want to buy or trade shoes are arranged via the internet, and “some kids were getting beat up and robbed,” he said.
Fly Standards started as an idea to create a safe place for shoe collectors to buy and sell their sneakers.
Thirteen shelves in the store display over 50 pairs of sneakers that are all on consignment. After the shoes are purchased, the seller is notified to come pick up a check for 80 percent of the profits. If the seller chooses to put the profit toward store credit, they receive a little more of a percentage, Valdes said.
The three partners researched locations in Red Bank and New Brunswick before finally making the decision to rent space in Asbury Park.
“Asbury is different, it has a uniqueness to it,” said Richardson. “We saw it as an up-and-coming area.”
Fly Standards is located at 550 Cookman Ave. They are open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday though Saturday.
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