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The Latest Luxury Boutiques, Just in Time for Christmas

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Sophie Doran | December 17, 2010

Haute horlogerie takes the United States, fashion and accessories invade New Bond Street and another string of maisons, flagships and concessions open around the globe

Luxury spending is back on the rise, Christmas is just around the corner and since our last ‘The Latest Boutiques’ edition, over twenty new luxury boutiques have opened around the globe. From Brisbane to Barcelona to Berlin to Beverly Hills, brands such as Hublot, Prada, Miu Miu, Mulberry, Omega and Richard Mille, show no signs of slowing down retail expansion.

Mulberry, London

Just in time for Christmas, Mulberry opened doors on its new London flagship at 50 New Bond Street, celebrating strong interim results, the launch of iPod and iPad applications and its quintessentially British heritage. The design is the result of a two year collaboration with Universal Design Studio, who created an informal layout covering over 500sqm, combining bespoke features such as handmade irregular tiles, crafted oak, smooth brass and white lacquered surfaces.

Brand Director Georgia Fendley remarked ‘we are immensely proud of our British heritage and our reputation for craftsmanship; we wanted to facilitate the translation of these quintessential elements of our brand into our retail interiors. Rather than a pastiche of the craft used to create our products we have sought out the best of British craft for each material and function and let the quality and authenticity speak for itself.’

Website: Mulberry
Microsite: Fifty New Bond Street
Designers: Universal Design Studio


Richard Mille, Los Angeles

Richard Mille recently debuted in America, opening in Beverly Hills hotspot Rodeo Drive. The 130sqm space showcases popular models such as the RM 010 Automatic, the RM 021 Aerodyne Tourbillon and the RM 016 Flat Automatic, as well as boutique exclusive RM 011 Black Ti Flyback, limited to 50 pieces, only available in the US store.

In keeping with the current worldwide boutique concept, the facade is adorned with large engraved glass window panels and iconic watch sculptures on entrance. A combination of natural wood, glass, dark leather and stone provide a neutral canvas for the highly technical collection, while Illuminated portraits of brand ambassadors Rafael Nadal, Felipe Massa, Jackie Chan and Michelle Yeoh, adorn the boutique walls.

Website: Richard Mille
Source: World Tempus


Hugo Boss, Dubai

In partnership with local distributor BinHendi, Hugo Boss recently launched a 420sqm space in one of Dubai’s largest shopping malls, Mall of the Emirates. The brand boutique combines fashion and accessories collections from BOSS Black, BOSS Selection and BOSS Green. The latest-generation store concept incorporates rich walnut backdrops, stainless steel and lacquered magnolia shelving, representing the sophisticated, contemporary and luxurious Hugo Boss look.

Mohi-din BinHendi remarked ‘Hugo Boss already has a huge dedicated following among clientele in the region and all over the world, thus making BOSS a truly global brand of choice. This store is sure to be another successful ambassador of BinHendi’s exclusive fashion division’.

Website: Hugo Boss
Website: BinHendi
Website: Mall of the Emirates
Source: Trans-Arabian Creative Communications


Miu Miu, London

Launched with great fanfare, Miu Miu’s latest London boutique occupies a prominent corner on New Bond Street and is self-described as a ‘treasure trove waiting to be explored, where individual products are treated like rare jewels.’

The design by Roberto Baciocchi is nothing short of dramatic, double-height backlit display windows, micro-perforated metal plate curtains, reached through a studded steel revolving door set into marble. The two level 370sqm space accommodates bags, accessories and shoes in ‘vaults’, where the women’s ready-to-wear collection is accessed on the upper floor by a studded glass ‘jewellery box’ elevator.

Website: Miu Miu
Architect: Roberto Baciocchi


Prada, Istanbul, Barcelona

Last week it was Los Angeles, this week it’s Istanbul and Barcelona, Prada continue to open stores in the wake of impressive interim figures. The 500sqm, three level Istanbul store, houses ready-to- wear collections, bags, accessories, and footwear for both women and men.

Architect Roberto Baciocchi has installed a black marble staircase, lined with bronze mirrors to deliver customers to the ready-to-wear ateliers on the upper floors, whilst on the ground level, bags and accessories are displayed in pastel green niches and polished steel-framed counters. The facade is entirely clad in backlit opal glass that follows the cylindrical shape of the building complimented by curvilinear sofas and wheat-coloured carpet, bordered by a marble floor.

The Barcelona store occupies 60sqm in the El Corte Inglés department store and offers the women’s collections of bags, accessories, and travel goods. The signature black and white chequered floor, bordered by a marble edge and pastel green canvas upholstery makes the space distinctly Prada.

Website: Prada
Istanbul: Istinye Park
Barcelona: El Corte Inglés
Architect: Roberto Baciocchi


Hublot, Miami, Phillipsburg, Boca Raton

Hublot opened in three balmy luxury destinations, Bal Harbour and Boca Raton in Florida and Sint Maarten Island in the Caribbean. The Hublot brand mantra, ‘The Art of Fusion’ permeates all three stores, featuring high tech display cases and a combination of steel, carbon fibre, aluminium and singular alloys with wood, leather, rubber and glass. The Boca Raton boutique hosts a luxurious secluded VIP area, Hublot World, as well as customer access to the Vendôme Collection – a selection of unique models available only at chosen boutiques.

Hublot CEO Jean-Claude Biver remarked ‘Each new opening reflects the great vitality and impressive expansion of Hublot, with every month seeing the inauguration of new exclusive locations in the most prestigious settings around the world. With the forthcoming and recent exclusive openings in Aruba, Beverly Hills and New York, Hublot has never been as strong and as dynamic as today.’

Website: Hublot
Source: Sint Maarten
Source: Bal Harbour


Giambattista Valli, Paris

Pale pink walls and crocodile skin lounges adorn Giambattista Valli’s first stand-alone boutique, in a 19th-century commercial arcade off Rue Royale, located below his headquarters, couture and design studio. The 140sqm space was designed by long-time collaborator, architect Luigi Scialanga, whose jewellery is sold in the store. Valli archive pieces are mixed with current collection as a point of reference for customers seeking custom made garments, as are Crocodile skin shoes that similarly can be made to order.

The store is spilt into two areas, the main space hosts large changing rooms with antique floor-to-ceiling mirrored doors, there is then a central seating area, followed by long clothing unit spanning the length of the windows. The design incorporates original features, such as 17th-century stone pillars and beams, mirrored shelving units and antique finds, with modern elements like a light gray concrete floor, inspired by New York lofts.

Website: Giambattista Valli
Source: WWD


Omega, Los Angeles, Seattle

Joining Gucci, Prada and Fendi, Omega add the first timepiece boutique to the Beverly Centre in Los Angeles. As one of nine OMEGA boutiques to open in the US the 150sqm space is a central component of the next phase of the brand’s retail growth, twenty more boutiques are planned to launch in 2011. OMEGA President Stephen Urquhart: ‘There are a number of reasons for us to build up our network in the U.S.A. We are in a strong position thanks to our global success and we believe in America. We are confident that it is an ideal time to make this major commitment there’.

In Seattle the brand has launched an 110sqm flagship store within the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. Both store concepts are modelled on the design of the New York flagship, conceived around the themes of sun, water, earth and time. Below the displays, chiselled and silvered glass represents an exposed cross section of the earth, which conveys a history of time.

Website: Omega
Website: Beverly Centre


Hermès, Brisbane

Launching its fifth Australian boutique, Hermès opened a 95sqm space in Brisbane, designed by Parisian architects RDAI, the agency responsible for the design of Hermès stores worldwide.

The agency drew inspiration from the tropics, designing a curved exterior facade highlighted by large glass canopies, they also used native Australian timbers to demonstrate the commitment to local materials in the development of the project. A 7-metre-high cavity has been created between the two floors to present the world of silk, whilst warm tints of a marron glacé carpet, cherry wood panelled walls and two pale leather Confidences chairs contribute to the more intimate atmosphere of the worlds of men’s and women’s ready-to-wear.

Website: Hermès
Architect: Rena Dumas Architecture Intérieure


Louis Vuitton Maison, Vancouver

Recently the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver joined 11 other select cities worldwide, to host Canada’s first Louis Vuitton ‘Maison’. The 950sqm space is been inspired by the work of architect Peter Marino, on the Champs Élysées and Bond Street Louis Vuitton Maisons, incorporating warm woods and highly reflective metal, in keeping with the brand’s global store concept

Jean-Philippe Hecquet, vice-president Louis Vuitton Canada, remarked ‘Maison isn’t really about the architecture of a store, about the biggest one or the one with the highest facade. It’s about the art and the feeling inside the store. It merges luxury product, leisure, art and culture to provide the ultimate customer experience. Stepping into one of our Maisons is, quite literally, stepping into the home of Louis Vuitton.’

Website: Louis Vuitton
Source: The Vancouver Sun


Tiffany & Co, Barcelona

Tiffany & Co opened its second Spanish boutique, in Barcelona’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel. The 360sqm space has been constructed on multiple levels that overlook the hotel’s courtyard and features custom furnishings, leather panels and cerused oak in various shades of blue. Referencing the iconic New York flagship on Fifth Avenue, it incorporates brushed stainless steel showcases and vitrines and features glass and mirrors carved with an Art Deco-inspired fluting motifs.

The store features the work of designers Jean Schlumberger, Paloma Picasso, architect Frank Gehry and long-time collaborator Elsa Peretti. Perretti’s designs command their own area of the store that features a wide selection of her jewellery and objects and represents her deep connection to Spain and its people.

Website: Tiffany & Co
Website: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Barcelona


Pierre Hardy, New York

Parisian cult shoemaker, Pierre Hardy, has launched his first boutique in New York, in the hip West Village. The former carriage house, redesigned by David Mann of MR. Architecture + Decor, combines smokey brown glass and mirrors, raw brickwork, anthracite wall paint and shop fittings reminiscent of the New York skyline. The perfect canvas showcasing the Frenchman’s meticulously crafted shoes, bags and accessories in an angular and intimate setting.

Hardy remarked of the design ‘It’s exactly the opposite of Paris. There you have historical places you can’t touch and you have to work with it. Here we had to destroy and rebuild everything because what was here was unusable. We tried to do something more precious in the middle of something more raw.’

Website: Pierre Hardy
Architect: MR Architecture + Decor
Source: Style.com


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