Filed under: Uncategorized
Retail Refugees is on an indefinite break and will return some time in the future…
Filed under: Art/Design, Fashion, Stores | Tags: London, Nike, Wonderwall
London’s flagship Nike Town has been re-opened after some pretty extensive renovations over the summer and last few months… Check it out below:
J.Crew will be acquired by two investment firms for $3 billion, according to a document released moments ago by the preppy-chic retailer. (We first reported on this Monday night–click here for some background.)
This will allow CEO Mickey Drexler and co. to fix what’s wrong with the business–and build on what’s right–without having to deal with public shareholders.
“It is a clear endorsement of J.Crew and of the hard work and commitment of each and every one of our associates,” Drexler said of the agreement. “As I have always said, we are in this for the long term and we do what we do day in and day out so we can deliver the best possible products to our customers.”
(via Fashionista)
The official news is that Italy’s fashion capital Milan opened its arms to mass Americana over the weekend with the grand opening of adjoining Gap and Banana Republic flagships. The big news for us though is the opening hails the launch of an exclusive limited-edition Valentino x Gap collaboration. Don’t get too excited though. The collab is only available in Europe: select Gaps in Rome and Milan, plus Paris’ Colette and London’s Gap flagship and designer emporium Dover Street Market. (via Racked)
Valentino x Gap via Fashionista
Filed under: Market Info, Retail Events | Tags: Beijing, Comme des Garcons, Rei Kawakubi
Looks like Comme des Garcons genius Rei Kawakubo is setting her sights on China…
Is this Dover Street Market 2.0? WWD reports that Rei Kawakubo is set to open a 19,000 square foot multi-brand emporium called I.T. Beijing Market in, um, Beijing, China, on December 29th. The four-story space will stock Comme as well as other labels including Alaia, YSL, Ann Demeulemeester, and A Bathing Ape.
And that’s not the end of CDG’s retail expansion in Asia. Kawakubo plans on opening a 32,000 square foot store called Ginza Komatsu Market in Tokyo next year. WWD reports that “the product mix will be half Comme des Garcons brands, the rest invited and curated by Kawakubo in collaboration with Komatsu.”
A new Comme des Garcons flagship will also bow in Tokyo in January. The brand will open a 4,500 square foot store in the Marunouchi district. Early reports say the location will include a 2,000 square foot branch of Paris’ Rose Bakery. (via Racked)
If you’re looking for a stylish carrier for your ethical shopping, look no further than “Sleeping Bags” latest collection…
This autumn sees the launch of Sleeping Bags, a breakthrough social enterprise that produces beautiful and ecologically sound bags made from recycled luxury hotel bed linen. Inspired by the product they are intended to replace: plastic bags, the product concept was developed by a collective of London’s leading designers, including Tom Dixon and Oonagh O’Hagan.
“Twice a year Sleeping Bags collaborates with established and emerging artists and designers, commissioning original artworks on a theme rooted in the brand concept, ‘The Secret World of Beds’. The work is then showcased on the bags, making up each season’s collection, whilst at the same time creating limited edition pieces of art. Sleeping Bags’ launch theme is ‘In My Dreams’ and contributions come from Jason Bruges, Vicki Murdoch, Avsh Alom Gur, Sir John Hegarty, David McCandless, Vicki Murdoch and Oonagh O’Hagan. Previewing from November with Vicki Murdoch’s design in four colour-ways, additional ‘In My Dreams’ artworks will be released on bags over the coming months.
Made in London from retired bed linen sourced form the capital’s luxury hotels, Sleeping Bags provides an environmentally friendly choice for the style conscious and aesthetically minded.
Filed under: Advertising, Art/Design, Stores | Tags: Barneys, illy, Shopping, Simon Doonan, Window Display
Simon Doonan, Creative Director for Barneys New York, has just unveiled designs for one of the first holiday window displays of the season… With the tagline, “Have a foodie holiday” and paying respect to icons of gastronomy like Jean-Georges, Jaime Oliver and Julia Child, the first glimpse includes a scene created from Illy coffee packaging and accessories. Looking forward to lunch… I mean, the holiday season!
“I’m interested in the dissonance between fashion and food,” said Doonan. “Whenever we do an event, the fashion people say, ‘No food please. Let’s just serve vodka.’ But our customers are much more interested in Bobby Flay and Keith McNally than in Lindsay Lohan or the Kardashians. Chefs are definitely the new celebrities.” (via The Moment)
