This autumn will see London luxury department store Harvey Nichols unveiling the first stage of its transformation with the launch of a reimagined ground floor retail experience at the Knightsbridge flagship.
Harvey Nichols
The company said the renewed space “marks a significant evolution for the brand, introducing a bold direction that blends fine and designer jewellery with a curated lifestyle offer”.
Launching in September, the redesign features “a bold use of primary colour throughout the space, alongside adaptable, movable fixtures that allow for evolving brand collaborations and seasonal storytelling”.
It also includes a new installation by artist and designer Gary Card, “whose immersive work reflects the store’s evolving creative vision”.
The ground floor windows “will be opened allowing the floor to be flooded with natural light, while the prominent corner window at the junction of Knightsbridge and Sloane Street will become a dynamic pop-up space to spotlight exclusive brand moments and launches”.
Selfridges across town in the West End has already proved how a prominent corner position can be a strong one for pop-ups and can be hugely impactful, so it will be interesting to see how the idea works in one of London’s other key luxury shopping districts.
The changes are the most significant physical development at the store since its new CEO and new creative director joined and the retailer said the revamp has been “designed to meet the shifting expectations of today’s discerning shopper”. It brings together “globally recognised designers, emerging talent and one-of-a-kind objects, all within an environment that encourages creativity, individuality and discovery”.
It’s anchored by a curated jewellery edit, including international and contemporary names, plus “a focused selection of elevated homeware and gifting”. That’s an interesting development at the mainly-fashion-focused store with the new space featuring items from lifestyle design and décor to artisan candles, sculptural vases, tabletop objects and books-as-art, with plenty of “standout, collectable pieces”.
CEO Julia Goddard said that “with the opening up of the windows and a new flexible experiential space, it offers a dynamic platform for unexpected collaborations and unique brand moments”.
And creative director Kate Phelan called it a “pivotal moment for Harvey Nichols. The new ground floor is about more than product – it’s a statement of intent. We’re creating an experience that feels relevant, exciting and, above all, individual. This is just the beginning of what’s to come”.
Safilo has confirmed that it will not make a binding offer to acquire British business Inspecs Group plc. The Italian eyewear group disclosed this following the announcement made on December 10 by Inspecs, noting Bidco 1125 Limited’s proposal to acquire it at a price of 84 pence per share.
Safilo
The Padua-based global eyewear company had expressed interest last October in acquiring Inspecs, making an initial approach to the UK-based eyewear designer, manufacturer, and distributor in relation to a potential acquisition of its Eschenbach Group and BoDe assets. Safilo subsequently made two possible non-binding cash offers to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Inspecs. Both proposals were rejected by Inspecs.
Today Safilo issued an announcement pursuant to Rule 2.8 of the Takeover Code. Accordingly, the company stated that, unless the Panel consents, Safilo (together with any persons acting in concert) will be subject to the restrictions set out in Rule 2.8. These restrictions include, among other things, that for a period of six months Safilo may not announce an offer or possible offer for Inspecs, nor acquire any interest in Inspecs shares that, in aggregate, would confer 30% or more of the voting rights in the British company.
However, Safilo pointed out that, pursuant to Note 2 of Rule 2.8 of the Takeover Code, it reserves the right to depart from these restrictions should certain circumstances arise: if a third party (other than Bidco 1125) announces a firm intention to make an offer for Inspecs; if Inspecs announces a proposed waiver of Rule 9 (relating to the obligation to make a mandatory takeover offer) subject to the approval of independent shareholders, or a reverse takeover (as defined in the Takeover Code); or if the Takeover Panel determines that there has been a material change of circumstances.
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NARS Cosmetics has revealed Kaia Gerber as its newest global brand ambassador, saying she’s a “beauty and fashion icon [and] a longtime collaborator” of founder and creative director, François Nars.
Kaia Gerber by François Nars
She certainly adds a newsworthy element to any brand she fronts having walked the runways for the biggest global designer labels as well as appearing on the covers of the world’s top glossy magazines.
She’s been in demand by high end and mass-market labels this year and in May was announced as Mango’s latest face in a deal that the retailer called a “collaboration” set to run throughout the year. Two months earlier she’d appeared with her mother Cindy Crawford for Mango’s rival Zara with the duo headlining a new session of its ‘Zara Streaming’ initiative.
She makes her debut for NARS with the launch of a campaign shot by François Nars for the new Afterglow Lip Balm. That product launches in January and continues the trend for high-end brands diving deep into a once-humble category and backing their launches with major campaigns.
Shiseido-owned NARS has been expanding in recent periods and only in October announced a strategic partnership with Indian giant Reliance Retail’s omnichannel business Tira to boost accessibility in the country. Gerber’s presence is likely to be a boost for its growth plans.
François Nars said of her: “Kaia is a true beauty, a supermodel of today who carries with her the spirit of another era. Working with her on this campaign felt like stepping back into the age of the original icons. Those supermodels were more than faces; what I always loved about them was their joy. They loved the camera, the artistry of makeup and hair, and fashion itself. Most importantly, they gave everything in front of the camera, pouring their energy into creating the most beautiful images possible. Kaia has that same spirit and photographing her was like reliving the magic—one of the very things that made me fall in love with this industry in the first place.”
NudeProject is advancing its European expansion. The Spanish urban fashion brand has added Germany to the list of markets in which it has a retail presence: on Friday December 12, it opened a store on Alte Schönhauser Straße in Berlin.
New Nude Project store in Berlin – Nude Project
The store is the brand’s first permanent location in the German capital, although it tested the market in the city last spring with a pop-up. With this opening, Nude Project now operates four international brick-and-mortar stores, alongside existing locations in Milan, Lisbon, and Amsterdam. In October, the brand crossed the Atlantic to make its first foray into US retail with a temporary pop-up in Miami.
Founded in 2019 by Bruno Casanovas and Alex Benlloch, the firm has become a phenomenon among younger consumers and has progressively expanded its catalogue in recent years, spanning both womenswear and menswear, as well as accessories.
Collaborations are a key part of the brand’s identity; in fact, it has just unveiled a new capsule with Playboy, its third joint launch. In financial terms, it reported revenue of €26 million in the 2023 financial year (the most recent figures available).
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