Kookaï to make UK retail return with store on London’s Carnaby Street
Womenswear brand Kookaï is to make a return to the UK high street “in the coming months”, with a new 1,800 sq ft flagship store at 37 Carnaby Street in London.
It will be the first time the brand, which was founded in Paris in 1983 but is now an Australian-owned company having been acquired in full by its original Australian licensees, Robert Cromb and Danielle Vagner (in 2017), has had presence on a UK high street since 2013.
Kookaï’s upcoming Carnaby Street store will mark a UK debut of the brand’s “refreshed iteration”. Its new look and feel builds on success across Australia, New Zealand and Europe, having grown to more than 57 boutiques in recent years.
Bianca Vagner Cromb, Creative Director of Kookaï, said: “As a brand we’re making major moves towards growth, and our upcoming UK debut in Soho is a major milestone.
“A location such as Carnaby Street provides an optimal opportunity to connect with our customer demographic, whilst the destination’s reputation for uplifting similar brands in their transition into the UK market ensures we are well positioned for a successful debut.”
William Oliver, Director of Retail & Restaurant Leasing at London landlord Shaftesbury Capital, added: “This fresh version of Kookaï coming to Carnaby Street for a UK debut, closely following in Edikted’s footsteps, reinforces Soho’s position as the sought after launch destination for brands.”
The announcement of Kookaï’s new store on Carnaby Street follows the news earlier this month that French outerwear brand K-Way is opening a new 1,400 sq ft flagship store at 26-27 Carnaby Street this spring.
It will mark the second store for the brand in the capital, following a combined K-Way, Sebago and Superga store opening by parent Italian company BasicNet on the King’s Road in February 2025, in what was K-Way’s 60th anniversary year.
