Alessandra Rossi, CEO of Florence-based Italian fashion buyer store and fashion e-commerce platform Luisaviaroma, announced in an interview with Italian media outlet MFF that the opening of the first store in the United States is scheduled for January 2024, and the new store will be located in the 1 Bond Street, NoHo district of Manhattan, New York.
Alessandra Rossi pointed out: "Choosing to open a store in the United States is one of the key points of our international development strategy, and the American market will play an increasingly important role." The United States is currently Luisaviaroma's second-largest market and has returned to double-digit growth over the past three months, representing an accelerating trend in this market.
According to previously disclosed news, Luisaviaroma's upcoming retail space is located in a six-story apartment with an area of 7,855 square feet, adjacent to retailers such as Showfields and Kith, and next to the fashion membership club Zero Bond across the street. It is reported that the company has signed a long-term lease with the landlord with an annual rent of US$3.2 million.
Talking about the development strategy, Alessandra Rossi said: "Compared with 2022, we expect the overall average growth rate of turnover in 2023 to be 15%–18%." Our main market is Italy, and we estimate that this year's turnover will grow 22%–25%.
Overall, Luisaviaroma's growth has been very significant and has remained constant due to the increased online penetration of Luisaviaroma in recent years and the importance of the location of Florence. To a lesser extent, this trend also applies to other major European markets such as France, Spain, and the Netherlands."
Alessandra Rossi added, "Overall, the competitive environment is certainly volatile, with macroeconomic uncertainty and price increases for luxury brands in general, making it all the more important to focus attention and investment on target markets and customers."
On the evening of June 14th, local time, during the 104th Pitti Uomo of Florence men's wear week, Luisaviaroma also joined hands with the British version of "Vogue" and its editor-in-chief and editorial director of Vogue European, Edward Enninful OBE, held in Michelangelo Square. A special open-air fashion show called "Runway Icons". As an extension of the Luisaviaroma 90th Anniversary Fashion Show in 2019, the event looked back at the evolution of fashion and style over the decades, creating a visual dialogue between past, present, and future, with more than 50 international brands on display, totaling approximately 1,500 guests.
Renowned artist Andrea Bocelli opened the show with an exclusive performance. Followed by the most influential faces in the fashion industry, such as Natalia Vodianova, Imaan Hammam, Mariacarla Boscono, Vittoria Ceretti, Eva Herzigova, Ashley Graham, Stella Maxwell, Maye Musk, and other supermodels, the show symbolizes the tradition and modern DNA of each brand's clothing.
To celebrate this special event, Luisaviaroma has teamed up with select brands to launch a capsule collection. Co-branded brands include: 16Arlington, Alexander McQueen, Alexandre Vauthier, Amina Muaddi, Blumarine, Christian Louboutin, Coperni, Dolce & Gabbana, Ferragamo, Giorgio Armani, Jimmy Choo, Magda Butrym, Max Mara, Moncler, Mugler, Nensi Dojaka, Paco Rabanne, Ray-Ban, Tom Ford, Victoria Beckham, Vivienne Westwood, and Zimmermann.
Every Thursday from June 15, 2023, to November 2023, Luisaviaroma will create a dedicated section on the official website and release a special capsule collection in collaboration with partner brands.
The event is an opportunity for Luisa Via Roma to partner with Google to enable the real-time sale of runway looks through @ShopWithGoogle. A selection of runway looks and a selection from Luisa Via Roma are now available for purchase via @ShopWithGoogle, allowing users to get even more involved in the event in an exclusive "see now, buy now" experience.
Florence, Italy, June 14, 2023: Andrea Bocelli performs during Luisa Via Roma and British Vogue's Runway Icons at Piazzale Michelangelo on June 14, 2023, in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for Luisaviarom a)
In 1930, Luisa Via Roma's first store opened on Via Roma in the center of Florence, and it was reopened on the opening night of the 102nd Pitti Uomo Men's Wear Week on June 14 last year.
It is reported that in 2018, Luisaviaroma briefly tested the waters in Manhattan and opened a pop-up store in cooperation with Spring Studios and Spring Place for nearly a month.
At the end of 2021, Italian private equity fund Style Capital invested approximately 130 million euros to acquire a 40% stake in Luisaviaroma, aiming to support Luisaviaroma's future growth operations.
