In Pictures: Kookaï opens flagship boutique in London
Australian womenswear brand Kookaï has opened a new store on Carnaby Street in Soho, London, marking its return to physical retail in the UK.
The 1,800 sq ft boutique at 37 Carnaby Street showcases the brand’s updated direction following its growth across Australia, New Zealand and Europe. It features womenswear designed exclusively from its Melbourne studio.
Bianca Vagner Cromb, Creative Director of Kookaï, said: "Opening our UK debut on Carnaby Street is a major milestone for Kookaï, being the perfect location to really cement our position in the market.
"The destination offers unmatched visibility, as well as the opportunity to sit alongside other like-minded, global brands.
"The success we’ve seen so far with the new iteration gives us real confidence in the brand’s future, and this launch marks the beginning of a fantastic relationship with UK consumers."
It marks the first time Kookaï - founded in Paris in 1983 but now Australian-owned after being fully acquired in 2017 by its original Australian licensees Robert Cromb and Danielle Vagner - has had a presence on a UK high street since 2013.
The opening forms part of a wider wave of international retailers establishing a presence in the area. Outerwear brand K-Way has also opened a West End flagship, spanning 1,400 sq ft, as part of its ongoing international expansion.
William Oliver, Director of Retail & Restaurant Leasing at Shaftesbury Capital, said: "Both Kookaï and K-Way are great additions to Carnaby Street, bringing something distinct that will resonate with our visitors and contribute to the street’s constant evolution.
"Carnaby Street’s mix of best-in-class retailers sets it apart from other retail destinations across the UK - welcoming firsts like Edikted, TALA and Eme Studios. We’re confident Kookaï and K-Way will add to that unique dynamic."
The new stores will be joined by Spanish streetwear label Eme Studios, which has signed to open its UK debut at 57 Carnaby Street, further diversifying the street’s retail mix with another digitally native brand.
