Shopping

Shopaholic Guide 2007 launched in Russia

Value Retail and Vogue Russia co-hosted an intimate lunch for Russian style journalists, luxury brand executives and fashion industry leaders at the end of May to celebrate the launch in Russia of Shopaholic’s Guide 2007.

The aim is to heighten awareness of the nine Cic Outlet Shopping Villages managed by Value Retail across Europe. Desiree Bollier, CEO of Value Retail, was at the launch in Vogue Cafй along with Aliona Doletskaya, Editor of Vogue Russia and Natalia Gandurina, Managing Director at Conde Nast Russia.

The Shopaholics Guide, which appears this summer inside the summer editions of Vanity Fair, Conde Nast Traveller and Vogue Russia, is a slick little manual full of expert and insider tips and information to help uncover the delights of Chic Outlet Shopping.

Mercury ushers in Ralph Lauren

Polo Ralph Lauren has opened a flagship store in franchisee Mercury’s prestigious downtown Tretyakovsky Passazh alongside the likes of Ferrari, Bentley, Armani, Breitling, Chopard, Faberge and Tiffany who are all represented by Mercury. Luxury goods make up 10% of retail sales in Russia according to researcher Fashion Consulting, quoted by Bloomberg. The retail market is said to be worth $270 billion and may grow 17% next year. Polo also opened a small store in Mercury’s Barvikha Luxury Village located on the Rublovka Highway, lined with the homes of Russia’s super-rich. The opening was lauded by the US Embassy in Moscow which distributed news releases and hosted a launch event.

“The Russian consumer will be able to experience my vision for the first time and it is thrilling,” Lauren said in a statement distributed at the launch party.

TopShop on a roll in Russia

The British high street fashion leader opened its flagship Russian store last November in Evropeiskiy Trade & Entertainment Centre. Already franchisor ENROF has opened another two outlets in Moscow, in Okhotniy Ryad Trading Centre on Manezhnaya Square and in Mega Belaya Dacha. In Saint-Petersburg have two outlets - in hypermarkets Mega Dybenko and Mega Parnas. In October 2007 they are planning to launch one more store in Saint-Petersburg - in the city centre, in Sennaya Street. They are also negotiating with Krasnodar and Rostov to launch stores in these cities.

Da Vinci presents a new Fani Gioielli Collection

The new Fani Gioielli collection is inspired by the elite European travelers of the 18th Century: where those of noble birth took the Grand Tour in which Italy was a prime destination and the search for beauty in all its expressions was a prime goal. Maria Grazia De Rosi Bonifazi who designed the collection has been inspired by Italian cities and Italian islands to evoke the traditions, landscapes and romance capable of re-creating the unique beauty of Italian aesthetics in a contemporary key. Thus, from north to south, gathered in a “cahier des souvenirs” we can rediscover handmade Italian craftsmanship, that reveals “Made in Italy” in the most authentic sense of the term.

There is something truly unique about this collection; these bags are the authentic expression of Italian craft talent, interpreting the Fani Gioielli Grand Tour. Bags that are transformed into exclusive jewels to be worn as supremely exclusive style accessories.