Yorkville Village shopping center is getting a new superstar this fall!
British heritage luxury brand Belstaff will open it’s first freestanding Canadian boutique. The upper level of Toronto’s Yorkville Village, will welcome the 1,100-square foot location that should wow all the visitors, according to announcements of reatil group responsible for this project.
Yorkville Village, once Hazelton Lanes, was rebranded in early 2015. as part of a mall overhaul. Village continues to renovate and add new retailers and as part of the renovations, Nanni retail concept will open next to the new Belstaff store on the mall’s upper level.
Hazelton Lanes was one of the world’s top luxury retail centers, featuring an impressive roster of top brands in a series of intimate designer boutiques. Sadly, the recession happened in 90s and since then the center is in the process of completing a renovation. The total cost estimated for completion is around $100 million. Belstaff will be the first mono-brand luxury announcement for the renovated Yorkville Village, and more retailers will be announced later this year.
It is interesting to mention the boutique will open in partnership with the Zappacosta family, who also runs upscale multi-brand retailers philip and Nanni. This autumn the visitors will be offered men’s ready-to-wear collections, along with outerwear, leather goods, accessories and footwear. Zappacostas operate very successfully on the market and they’ve had a retail presence in the mall since 1991, when they launched the Nanni concept store in the former Hazelton Lanes. Mr. Zappacosta explained how Belstaff’s exceptional sales at his philip store led to the freestanding Belstaff boutique partnership. Now, a number of other premium brands have talked to him about opening freestanding mono-brand locations. As a result, partner boutiques nearby will probably be one of the next projects too. He said that he’s particularly interested in luxury Italian, French and British menswear brands, though he’s also considering jewellery and other product categories.
Belstaff was founded in 1924. in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. It was the first company to use wax cotton in the manufacturing of waterproof apparel for motorcycling. The brand now sells ready-to-wear fashions for both men and women, as well as footwear, leather goods and accessories. Belstaff was acquired by Harry Slatkin and The Labelux Group in 2011, and it operates several boutiques globally. Belstaff also wholesales to upscale multi-brand retailers around the world.
