Ferragamo reopens in Vancouver

Luxury retailer plans further expansion into Canadian market

Italian luxury brand Salvatore Ferragamo celebrated its Vancouver connection with a showcase of its 2013 resort collection at the brand’s recently renovated Robson Street store on Thursday evening.

Co- hosted by NUVO lifestyle magazine, the fashion preview offered VIP shoppers a look at the vacation- worthy designs from creative director Massimiliano Giornetti’s latest collection.

“Massimiliano debuted it at the Louvre in Paris,” Vincent Ottomanelli, President of Ferragamo USA, said. “The product is just beautifully done, with a high attention to detail, soft tones and a great use of materials that is typical ( for) the House of Ferragamo.”

The garments, in a range of light pinks and luscious creams, feature bold details such as suede piping, intricate crochet and fringe. The line “celebrates true couture,” Ottomanelli said.

A portion of the event’s sales also went to benefit the BC Cancer Society.

Founded in 1928 by Salvatore Ferragamo, the brand followed in the footsteps of many large fashion houses, beginning with shoes and later branching into its current empire of women’s and men’s ready- to- wear, handbags and other assorted leather goods.

“Resort collections are a full collection in and of itself,” Ottomanelli said. “We are a global brand, so to have a full collection of resort wear is important for a house like ours.”

While admiring the new collection, shoppers also got a glimpse of the recently reopened store’s extensively renovated interior.

“We have been here in Vancouver since 1992,” Ottomanelli said. “It is about time that we renovated this store. We renovated because we wanted to have an intimate type of feel at this venue so we can treat our customers the way they deserve.”

The renovation, which included energy- efficient updates to the store’s lighting and decor details including Italian wood flooring and imported stone accents, is one step in the 85- year- old company’s planned expansion into the Canadian luxury market.

“This is the only Ferragamo store in Canada — for now,” Ottomanelli said. “( Vancouver is) international, it’s young, the people have a high appreciation for fashion and we do great business here, so it was important for us to invest here.”

Ferragamo is looking to open a Toronto location in early summer 2013.

The Vancouver store showcases Ferragamo’s premier ready- to- wear collections for women and men, as well as shoes, handbags, luggage, belts, bijoux, fine jewelry, silks, perfumes, eyewear and small leather goods.

Ferragamo USA president Vincent Ottomanelli and Goh Ballet Academy director Chan Hon Goh wear Ferragamo at the Robson Street store’s reopening.