Italian luxury brand Fendi made quite a splash on its Manila flagship store’s opening day. Apparently, the new 188-square meter boutique in the just-revived Greenbelt 3 made 10 times more than the Solaire store’s opening back in January this year, says an insider.
It’s most likely the recent successes of creative director Kim Jones that helped draw in fantastic sales. First, there was that collab with Kim Kardashian’s shapewear Skims in early November, and Jones bagging this year’s Designer of the Year honor at the 2021 Fashion Awards of the British Fashion Council earlier in the week.
But perhaps one could also credit the astutely curated merchandise the new store has on offer—it has everything the status-loving Pinoy shopper craves: from it’s fur collection to the popular Peekaboo bags to the bags styled with the Fendi “wrappy” scarves—and logos, logos, logos.
Hayden Kho, one of the early guests, was able to pull his friend from snapping up a logo-fied pair of designer sneaks, however, to getting the more artsy footwear with an exclusive print by London underground artist Noel Fielding. “Who knows Noel Fielding?” the friend was supposed to have quipped. “I don’t even know who Noel Fielding is.”
Well, someone who needs no introduction at all was spotted shopping on Day 2 of the Makati store: Gretchen Barretto, looking absolutely radiant in a white blouse. She was seen checking out the stuff on display with sought-after creative Vince Uy who has been appearing in some of the celeb’s IG stories of late. Other early shoppers include beauty titan Vicki Belo, and the chemist and CEO, Pinky Tobiano. Tatler editor Antón San Diego also swung by on second day with furniture purveyor Karen Santos.
The men’s section—decked in tones of brown leather, grey and green—is chock full of covetable pieces. These include a Monster eye jacket by Karl Lagerfeld— a force at the Italian luxury brand for 54 years—the Noel Fielding collab jacket, and the Flow sneakers, a chunky white pair with a side zip and elastic laces. The Flow has been flying off the Fendi shelves in Manila, apparently, even at the original Solaire boutique, with a pair being bought almost daily.
So what exclusive services can one avail of at the new Fendi flagship? A seamstress service and a dry cleaning service upon purchase—just so you come home with your shirt, jacket, trousers in their most perfect condition.