Hi-BYE Is Mexico City's Best-Kept Fashion Secret
The lifestyle boutique carries some of the coolest local indie designers.
“Keep Emotions in Motion” is the slogan of Mexico City-based lifestyle store, Hi-BYE. The shop’s cheeky name is an ode to the continuous kinetic energy within the universe. “We really feel like nothing is static, right? Everything is always changing. Things are always moving,” says Carla Valdivia, co-founder and CEO of Hi-BYE. “That’s really our way of looking at fashion and lifestyle, that things have to constantly be evolving to be fresh and be true to humanity, because it’s always changing and always moving.”
Beginning as a tight-knit community at its inception, Hi-BYE opened up shop with about five designers — including those who were closely acquainted with Valdivia and her co-founder, Emilia Cuahutle. The pair would prompt their pals to create playful yet functional pieces to populate the contemporary gallery-style space. “There are certain criteria that we look for. I think being experimental and conceptual is definitely one,” Valdivia speaks of the brands available at Hi-BYE. She also describes the shop as a “laboratory” — an inviting space to experiment for both the designers and customers. As the shop gained more popularity, Hi-BYE began to attract the attention of many other indie brands.
Hi-Bye
Hi-Bye
Hi-Bye
Hi-Bye
An eclectic mix of garments and accessories by independent labels such as Wurst, Zits, Banzo, Timo Sassen, Piscina and Katsu occupy the shop’s interior. The store’s minimal white shelves are also lined with candles reminiscent of Fruit Loops — a product born out of a collaboration between Hi-BYE and Casa Forastero — and a selection of jewelry, including pieces by Sacred Scraps, a brand that sources beads and stones from all over the world to create one-of-a-kind designs. The shop also sells ceramics, artful glassware, hand-weaved halter tops, books and an in-house line of T-shirts and sweatshirts.
Hi-Bye
Hi-Bye
Hi-Bye
Hi-Bye
Hi-BYE prides itself on carrying homegrown brands, but aims to be more inclusive of designers based in other countries as well. “Something we’ve really been trying to focus on more is giving a lot more focus to Latin America in general, and I think that’s a goal that we have for this year,” Valdivia explains.
Valdivia also emphasizes that it’s important to maintain an innovative retail environment, and to continue offering unique shopping experiences for returning customers. Every trip to the store yields a different vibe, allowing consumers to indulge in a distinctive ambiance each time — visually, sonically, and of course, sartorially. Instead of restocking items, Valdivia and her team switch out the old with the new quite often — a little conceptual nod to their shop’s name, Hi-BYE. Upholding logistical operations to remain small, friendly and sustainable is imperative for the brand as well. Most of its pieces are produced as one-offs, as the co-founders desire to limit mass production of garments, to avoid waste and to preserve a feeling of exclusivity.
Hi-Bye
Hi-Bye
Hi-Bye
Through collaborations, Hi-BYE has built a vibrant and loyal community. Last December, the lifestyle shop presented a residency at Los Angeles-based vintage shop Bug, which lasted for about a month. In a reciprocating effort, Valdivia also invited Bug to showcase their designs in Hi-BYE’s space.
Visit Hi-BYE online, or at its brick-and-mortar location at the address below.
Hi-BYE
Frontera 105bis
Roma Norte 06700
Ciudad de México
Tiffany Harrison is a multifaceted creative who is skilled in visual storytelling. She immerses herself in artful endeavors within photography, prop styling, product design and creative writing. Tiffany’s work is very conceptual and is inspired by contemporary art, which she is truly passionate about. You can connect with Tiffany on her website and Instagram.
