H&M Opens a Second Brooklyn Location on Fulton Mall

Image via Racked via WWDIn case you weren't sure if Brooklyn was gentrified, the Swedish retailer H&M will be opening their second Brooklyn location just a mile away from the Barclay center. That's right, this fast fashion super house will be throwing a block party on Wednesday to celebrate the opening of their new 29,000 square foot space. 

Does this mean the brightly colored, cheaply made, nauseatingly trending H&M clothing will be flooding the avenues of Park Slope? No, not Park Slope. Not our anti-the-man neighborhood which is dedicated to fair-trade, ethically made products? 

But, probably. H&M is the Starbucks of clothes. We all want to buy hand made clogs from fairly paid workers in Ecuador. But truth be told, when we're in a hurry, we look to fast fashion for easy shopping, quick consumption, and the ability to buy something outrageously trendy because even if we only wear it once it was only $11.99.

Also, Park Slope has a shortage of cute clothing stores. While there is a second-hand boutique on every block, Park Slope's overpriced, poorly curated thrift stores, Beacon's excluded, offer little more than what my Aunt's closet does: clothes that look cutish from far away but are faulty attempts at Pinterest-worthy vintage clothing. 

Unfortunately, H&M is most likely just the beginning. May Park Slope stores rest in peace as residents look to mid-level clothing companies to find what Park Slope boutiques don't offer: affordable, appealing fashion. But I'll be the first to say this is a slippery slope. I mean, what's next, a Forever 21? Say it aint so. 

Maybe some Park Slope boutiques can react in time to save the neighborhood and themselves by selling clothes are a bit more affordable and don't scream "Mom clothing." 

Otherwise, the space around the Barclay Center is about to turn into Herald Square. Heaven help us.

VIA RACKED