Belstaff expansion sees new Japanese and Canadian stores

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Aug 23, 2017

Belstaff, the up-for-sale luxury label, is to launch two new retail spaces in the coming month, continuing its global expansion in key markets with one store that underscores its strong focus on Japan and another that will be its first standalone in growth market Canada.

The “modern British heritage” brand’s first new opening was Wednesday (August 23) in Hankyu Men’s Tokyo. It’s the label’s fifth Japanese store in just 18 months after it debuted in the country early last year.

The company is one of a basket of brands (including Jimmy Choo and Bally) that have been put up for sale as its current majority owners focus on other areas of their business. No news has come in yet about who might buy Belstaff but in the meantime its expansion plans are continuing.

Belstaff said that the latest launch “showcases [its] strong commitment to” the Japanese market.

Following the launch of Belstaff’s men’s business in Japan, Hankyu Men’s Tokyo includes a full offering of the men’s AW17 collection. The store space also features the brand’s new visual design that takes in black raw steel rails and its new brighter lighting concept designed to highlight the products and materials.

A bike table is a star feature, playing homage to the brand’s biker heritage. The space is located in the International Designers Resort and Casual Style room on the second floor of the store.
 
A limited edition leather jacket, the ‘Raiders’ jacket is available to support the launch. The classic biker jacket with tattoo motifs, in keeping with the seasonal ‘Jolly Roger’ theme, was first presented at London Fashion Week.

A further men’s pop up store will launch in Hankyu Men’s Osaka, from October to November and this month also sees Belstaff move to a larger location on the seventh floor in Isetan, exactly a year after the initial debut of the brand in the destination store.

The larger space, now with Belstaff fixtures will continue to offer the hand-waxed cotton and leather pieces but also a wider assortment of the collection. The second limited edition capsule collection with Japanese street label Sophnet will also be available from September.
 
The second retail launch on September 1 will be the brand’s first standalone in Canada, in Yorkville Village, Toronto. Canada is one of the fastest growing markets for the brand.
 
Following recent strong sales there, it will open the pop-up to showcase its full men’s offering for the first time, including outerwear, denim, footwear, accessories, eyewear and small leathergoods, within the newly redeveloped Yorkville Village. Sitting next to TNT, which will carry the women’s AW17 collection, and Phillips, another wholesale account for Belstaff, the store sits within the contemporary lifestyle offering in the Village.