Prada Opens Vancouver Flagship [Photos]

Italian luxury brand Prada has opened its 8,200 square foot Vancouver flagship at 1098 Alberni Street. It’s the latest luxury brand to open in the city’s burgeoning ‘Luxury Zone’. 

Prada’s facade features entrances and display windows flanked by slim strips of black Marquinia marble. The store’s ground floor features two entrances — one dedicated to women’s leather goods, and the other for women’s footwear. The flagship was designed by architect Roberto Baciocchi, who has created some of the world’s finest retail spaces. 

The store features women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, leather goods, accessories and footwear collections. It also features a Made-to-Measure department, which is the only one of its kind in Canada for Prada. Prices are up to $2,000 for shirts and $28,000 for suits, according to the Vancouver Sun.  

The store features departments separated by mirrored and marble portals. Walls are of green fabric. Precious leather goods and jewellery are defined by black Marquinia marble-clad walls. 

Signature black-and-white marble checkered flooring characterize much of the store. As well, the store features steel and crystal display counters and “Clover Leaf” sofas, designed by Verner Panton and reproduced exclusively for Prada. 

Video screens are located alongside the store’s imposing black marble staircase. 

The second-floor women’s ready-to-wear department features large floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as green fabric-clad walls, green velvet sofas, transparent perspex cases, skylights and display tables. 

The second-floor men’s section features ‘masculine’ materials and finishes such as ebony floorboards and walls, metal and crystal display units and ostrich leather sofas. Display counters with saffiano leather detailing in bright hues complement the furnishings. A private area is dedicated to Made-to-Measure service (as mentioned above). 

Prada is the latest brand to open in Vancouver’s ‘Luxury Zone’, which is located on and around Alberni Street between the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and the Shangri-La Hotel. Prada’s space is located at The Carlyle, a complex of retail stores that includes brands such as Moncler, De Beers and Tory Burch. Across the street at 745 Thurlow Street is luxury brands Brunello Cucinelli, Versace and Strellson. At the Shangri-La Hotel itself, Rolex will open a 2,500 square foot location this summer next to Burberry and a block north on West Georgia Street, luxury men’s brand Stefano Ricci will also open this summer. Other brands in the immediate area include the likes of Escada, Tiffany & Co. (which is expanding), Montblanc, Hermes, Wolford, Jaeger Le-Coultre, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Gucci, St. John, Omega and others.