Recently in Store Opening Category

In a global initiative to promote retail, restore consumer confidence, and celebrate fashion, U.S. and international editions of Vogue are coordinating evening extravaganzas in their respective world fashion capitals.

They've invited every fashion retailer across the five boroughs to encourage the fun of fashion again--flagships, tiny boutiques, massive department stores, young designers, mainstream chains, and niche luxury names alike--by keeping its doors open late on the evening of September 10 and to implement creative customer experiences welcoming all. Over 700 retailers and designers across New York City are confirmed participants in Fashion's Night Out. Most events will take place from 6 P.M. until 11 P.M.

On Fashion's Night Out, every participating location is open to anyone and everyone. Neither tickets nor invitations are required to join in the Fashion's Night Out festivities.

As part of Fashion's Night Out on September 10, a citywide Clothing Drive will take place, encouraging New Yorkers and visitors to donate new and/or gently used clothing. The donated clothing will be given to the NYC AIDS Fund, which is administered by the New York Community Trust. The collected clothing will then be distributed to approximately 17 AIDS-related charities throughout New York City's five boroughs.

More details here.

(New York, NY) -- (May 7, 2009) - The human body is between 60-80% made of water. Beauty experts everywhere are always recommending to drink 2 bottles of Evian a day to keep your skin fresh. Spray on the water with misting bottles, carry the water with you in your Jean Paul Gautier designer bottle, we are even wondering when the day will come with Gucci hydration clothing is on every shelf instead of Gortex keeping the water away from our skin. Designers Marithe e Francois Girbaud, the inventors of the famous "stone washed" jeans look, hosted their entire 2008 fashion show to celebrate a new lazer technology that would replace the water waste created from the old process. They vowed never again to stone wash a jean and waste the world's clean water supply--instead they would zap their jeans to that perfect shade of pale.

This spring too, Saks Fifth Avenue will do their part in raising the consciousness about water by partnering with the charity: water, a non-profit organization that funds freshwater wells in developing nations for as little as $5,000. Last year, Saks raised over $500,000 for the charity, which aided in the construction of over 100 wells that will serve 37,000 people in Central America, India and Africa.

Using t-shirts to raise money for causes is not new, the Designers Against Aids have been raising great funds for their cause over the last 2 years. It is a cost effective way for people to give their dollars and support a cause they believe in by broadcasting through their everyday style. Designers lending a hand and making the t-shirts cryptic and cool enough for wearers to be subtle yet firm, help to support the subconscious message. From April 22 to June 30, Saks will offer charity: water t-shirts, bracelets and well sponsorships nationwide. Model Jessica Stam joins charity: water founder Scott Harrison in support of the campaign, to be featured in Saks Fifth Avenue stores and catalogs, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores and a dedicated area on saks.com.

"We have been extremely impressed with the charity's ability both to do great things and to show on their website how the money raised through last year's Saks campaign has led to the construction and completion of individual wells," said Steve Sadove, Chairman and CEO, Saks Fifth Avenue. "The momentum going into the second year of the campaign is even greater because we've already seen the difference our support has made to so many people."

Paris, January 2008 - photos by John Lin

Gabrielecorto Moltedo, head of Corto Moltedo is not waiting for the recession to stop his brand from developing it's legacy and celebrating it's fifth year by opening a flagship store. The boutique opens in one of the most fashionable locations in Paris: Palais Royale, 146-148 Galerie de Valois, 75001. Quoted on Style File as saying, "I'm just happy to keep it small, to just be here and do my thing. The days of the It bag are over--where's the money? Now, it's all about value."

The store is minimalist, clean, with a sky blue interior, jukebox, and plank wood panel wall and cases.  Blue fish flutter their way across the ceiling in an arc leading you past his modern leather designs.

The brand is highly sought after by girls across the globe and soon to be desired by the techno-snob scene. His gold embroidered computer bags are indeed the only casings a mac should be put into, and if it's a PC--it would be so honored.  Marissa Mayer may be flocking to this store the next time she appears at LeWeb along with Geraldine LeMeur.

Helsinki, Finland

Recently stopping in to the Design District in Helsinki to see designer, Tiia Vanhatapio, we discovered the Design Forum Finland Shop.

Tiia's Store has been remodeled, uncovering 1920's stone floors. Signature Red curtains hang along the burnt gold walls. Tiia tells the story of the Black Wedding Dresses. How her recent business has picked put in the bridal section with black bridal dress requests. She says that back in the history of courts and royalty, that women would want to wear again their dresses so they chose black as it would weather better.

This is one of Tiia's top requests in black.

Tiia Vanhatapio, as sultry as her modern Dark Couture devotees.

The signature line of Tiia Vanhatapio merges a lifelong passion for feminine vintage atelier style and couture. Focusing on special occasion pieces like flirty dresses, tempting evening wear to reindeer fur and quirky baby couture line Quelle Jolie Bébé!

Praised for modern cuts, it makes sure there's never femme quite as fatal as you. Obsession for all things macabre, seductive and subculture oriented. A strange fruit among the clean-cut Scandinavian brands. Her lines are a stage adorned by a clientele of headstrong women, socialites, models, young couples and proud grand parents.

"All she wants to be is
petite pale and intriguing"

18.06.2008 Tiia Vanhatapio in two major design exhibitions

Thiis summer Tiia Vanhatapio is participating two major design exhibitions - Fennofolk at Design Museum (Korkeavuoren 23, Helsinki Finland) between 11.6.-28.9.2008 and Glocal Shopper at Design Forum Finland (Erottajankatu 7, Helsinki Finland) between 13.6.-31.8.2008.

Read more at:
www.designmuseum.fi
www.designforum.fi

Tiia Vanhatapio was honoured to dress the newly named editor-in-chief of ELLE Finland Mirva Saukkola for the launch event of the magazine on 16th of April 2008 in Helsinki.

The Design Forum Finland have picked a winner for sure with Tiia.

Saturday was the grand opening of the official Apple store in Beijing, China. Located in the courtyard of the Sanlitun shopping development (northeast in the SanLiTun District, home to the city's embassies), with no less than a 400 person zig-zag line to enter the store. 85 people had camped out on Friday night to be at the front of the line to enter like at rock concerts to get tickets.

Originals area on the fourth floor: featuring the best of Originals street wear collection, inspired by the rich sporting heritage of adidas and the global reach me the adidas Trefoil logo. This is the Asian launch me the Originals atelier retail concept. Consumers can design their own Superstar or ZX700 sneakers, leave an image of their own style on the Trefoil wall or sample the Originals denim by Diesel products.

One of the highlights of the new adidas Brand Center is miCoach Core Skills, an interactive zone where customers can utilize innovative technologies that are normally only available in professional level sports facilities to personalize and enhance their sports training, performance and style. It offers the consumer the chance to amalgze their current level of performance and receive recommendations, tips and training techniques that will help them to further develop their core skills. Using miCOACH Core Skills technology, visitors to the adidas Brand Center will be guided by specially trained staff through a series me strength, speed, and balance tests. The miCoach Core Skills technology, similar to that used by pro athletes, will analyze the test results to assess users' core skill levels and provide them with specially tailored recommendations. Users receive a personalized report which enables them to benchmark themselves against other athletes and also contains suggestions.

One of the highlights of the new adidas Brand Center is miCoach Core Skills, an interactive zone where customers can utilize innovative technologies that are normally only available in professional level sports facilities to personalize and enhance their sports training, performance and style. It offers the consumer the chance to amalgze their current level of performance and receive recommendations, tips and training techniques that will help them to further develop their core skills. Using miCOACH Core Skills technology, visitors to the adidas Brand Center will be guided by specially trained staff through a series me strength, speed, and balance tests. The miCoach Core Skills technology, similar to that used by pro athletes, will analyze the test results to assess users' core skill levels and provide them with specially tailored recommendations. Users receive a personalized report which enables them to benchmark themselves against other athletes and also contains suggestions.

The store opening featured many areas with performers practicing sport such as yoga girls in the yoga section. It added a great touch to the event to see the clothing being used in an active manner.

The store opening featured many areas with performers practicing sport such as yoga girls in the yoga section. It added a great touch to the event to see the clothing being used in an active manner.

Featuring the best of adidas by Stella McArtney collection, a range of women's sports apparel, footwear and accessories created specially for adidas by renowned British designer Stella McArtney.

Featuring the best of adidas by Stella McArtney collection, a range of women's sports apparel, footwear and accessories created specially for adidas by renowned British designer Stella McArtney.

Inspired by the miCoach Core Skills on the 1st floor, there is also a kids version available on the 3rd floor me the store where kids from 6-12 years can use three "test stations" to test their reaction, jump and speed skills in a fun and playful manner. They can compete against each other and their sporting heroes. There is no scientific aspect behind the kid's version, it's sure focus is on engaging the kids and motivating them to play sport, get active and enjoy themselves.

Right before the ceremony there was a torrential rain which swamped the Sanlitun area. Everyone got really wet but then it cleared up, and the workers dried the area so that the ceremony could go on. The top media showed up and also many spectators and Adidas customer fans.

Adidas opens it's largest store in the world in Sanlitun, Beijing, China. It is the first time Adidas has all it's brands under one roof. The ceremony took place with speeches, ribbon cutting ceremony with a basketball player from Washington, a fashion show, and the doors officially opened to the public at midnight. Adidas is an official sponsor of the Olympics for clothing, and inside the store they have an entire room dedicated to the games with large screen displays, shoes under glass, and interactive videos.