Much has changed in the fashion and retail industry in 2022, with several high-profile companies opening new retail locations, incorporating new technologies and refurbishing stores.
As we approach 2023, TheIndustry.fashion has curated a list of the top ten updates and openings over the past year. Each heading leads to further information about the appointment.
Battersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station opens to the public
Almost 40 years after the London icon turned off its lights, Battersea Power Station reopened in October. open to the public for the first time. Visitors can explore the restored landmark and enjoy the first of its unique shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities.
Electric Boulevard, a new pedestrian precinct running between Gehry Partners’ Prospect Place and Zone 1 of London Underground Station, has also opened.
A notable store opening was Zara’s new flagship store. The tech-focused store, which is Zara’s largest retail space in the UK at 4,500 square metres, offers women’s, men’s, home and children’s clothing in a new format that marks the Spanish giant’s proposed approach to larger stores worldwide.
Another major store was Superdry’s 5,676 square foot ground floor storewhich joins the first tranche of over 100 shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities.
Read TheIndustry.fashion’s interview with Sam Cotton, Head of Leasing at Battersea Power Station.
Nike opens new Nike Rise concept in Westfield London
Sportswear and footwear giant Nike increased its presence in Westfield Londonoffering local sports enthusiasts a range of new and innovative digital experiences and services.
Westfield London is the first Nike location in EMEA to launch its proprietary Sport Pulse digital platform, which enables responsive and localized real-time sports stories. The LED screens at the entrance feature data-driven storytelling informed by real-time sporting moments across the city and Nike’s NTC and NRC activity apps to inspire athletes to move.
Gymshark opens its first store on Regent Street
Gymshark grew big with its first brick and mortar storetaking over an 18,000 square foot premium retail unit on London’s Regent Street.
The store stays true to Gymshark’s roots and aims to foster community spirit among its millennial customer base with fitness classes, expert advice, and a venue for podcasts, panels, and demonstrations.
Read TheIndustry.fashion’s interview with Gymshark Founder and CEO Ben Francis.
alternatively, Read TheIndustry.fashion’s interview with Gymshark’s Chief Brand Officer, Noel Mack.
Coca-Cola Covent Garden store
Coca-Cola opens fashion concept store in London’s Covent Garden
Coca-Cola opened its first flagship concept store in London in April. The retail destination in Long Acre, Covent Garden is the first of its kind in Europe and offers a range of limited edition clothing collections, exclusive designer collaborations, gift items and signature beverages.
It was later rumored that the store would close before 2023.
The Uniqlo and Theory joint store on Regent Street
Uniqlo unveils new store concept on Regent Street
Regent Street boasted another major opening this year in the form of The joint store of Uniqlo and Theory by Fast Retailing in the home of the former Superdry flagship (which has moved to Oxford Street).
Regent Street was the location of Uniqlo’s first store outside of its home market of Japan some 20 years ago, so this felt like a welcome return and a strong sign of its commitment to the UK market.
The shop, co-located with its stablemate Theory, showcases some of the historic site’s unique architectural features and includes a range of experiences and services such as a repair studio and cafe, as well as exhibitions by local artists.
Foot Locker expands and adds new technology at Westfield Stratford
Foot Locker opened a 10,000 sqm store in Westfield Stratford, which offers an “elevated retail experience” designed to inspire youth culture and build communities. The new store combines premium products and upscale in-store presentations, as well as enhanced technology-driven customer experiences and events.
Customers can also interact with the store through the digital virtual world with a striper bot that travels through the store by appearing on screens on the two floors. Guests can also take part in interactive games taking place on a curving high-fidelity LED wall to compete against players from across Europe and win prizes.
Del Core opens flagship store on London’s New Bond Street
Italian luxury fashion house Del Core, founded by designer Daniel Del Core in Milan in 2020, opened a 7,610 square foot flagship store occupies three floors at 123/124 New Bond Street in the heart of London’s Mayfair.
The space is defined by a pale bone tone, Del Core’s signature color. A large window overlooks New Bond Street, while access to the boutique is through a floor-to-ceiling glass door with marble handles.
Naked Wolfe New Bond Street flagship store in London
Naked Wolfe opens its first store on New Bond Street
Luxury shoe label Naked Wolfe opened its first retail space on London’s New Bond Street in December.
The opening of the first store is a testament to the rapid growth of the brand, which has amassed over 1.2 million followers over the past 5 years and achieved a cult following among the Gen Z demographic. Naked Wolfe is now available from world renowned luxury retailers such as Selfridges, Harrods, Browns, Neiman Marcus and Saks.
Read TheIndustry.fashion’s interview with Naked Wolfe co-founders Bronte and Cody Mance.
Loake opens a new flagship shop on London’s Jermyn Street
British footwear manufacturer Loake opened a new 1,380 square foot flagship store at 83 Jermyn Street in the heart of London’s St James’s, complementing its smaller existing store at 39C in Prince’s Arcade, which connects Piccadilly to Jermyn Street.
It is Loake’s sixth opening since the pandemic began in 2020, bringing the brand’s UK and Ireland store portfolio to 25.
H&M opens ‘World First’ store at the Trafford Center in Manchester
H&M opened the doors of a brand new retail concept at the Trafford Center in Manchester. It showcases a range of new features and services and underscores the retailer’s commitment to investing in stores outside of London.
The 29,202 square foot store features an open facade with the windows removed, marking the world’s first store design for the global fashion giant. It also includes the much-anticipated H&M Home, tech-enabled Click & Collect points and self-checkout.
Gap at NEXT, Oxford Street
Gap returns physically at Next’s flagship store on Oxford Street
Gap marked his return to Britain’s high street with the opening of the first Gap concession at Next’s flagship store in London.
Located at 120 Oxford Street, the 4,000 square foot Gap Concession offers a curated collection of everyday items including denim, fleece, khakis, shirts and Gap logo products for menswear, womenswear and childrenswear. A personalization shop with embroidery, patches and monograms is also available to all Gap customers.
Tessuti opens global flagship at Liverpool ONE
Liverpool ONE has seen a plethora of new retail openings in 2022. A prime example is the opening of designer retailer Tessuti, which opened its global flagship store. The new flagship is spread over two floors with an area of 22,000 square feet and offers an extensive selection of designer men’s, women’s and children’s collections.
Local and established companies including Svara Radio, Oatly and Revive Juices have confirmed residencies at the Tessuti store, which houses coveted brands such as Moose Knuckles, Vivienne Westwood and Michael Kors.
Flannels opens new stores across the UK and Republic of Ireland
The Frasers Group opened a series of flannel stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland in 2022, most recently its first business in ROI. The new 30,000 square foot store offers a selection of men’s clothing, women’s clothing, children’s clothing and accessories.
The space includes luxury brands like Givenchy, Burberry, Tom Ford and Versace, as well as streetwear brands like Stone Island, Casablanca, Off-White and Amiri. In addition to fashion, Flannels Beauty’s store offers a selection of luxury fragrances from brands such as Creed, Hermes, Jimmy Choo and Moncler.
Main image: (LR) Battersea Power Station, Foot Locker, Gap, Gymshark
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