Alexander Wang Opens Flashy Canadian Flagship on Bloor Street in Toronto [Photos]

Upscale New York City-based contemporary brand Alexander Wang has unveiled its Canadian flagship store on Bloor Street in Toronto. The flashy metallic space is the first standalone location in Canada for the brand with more to come. 

The 2,500 square foot Toronto store at 110 Bloor Street West houses Wang’s full collection that includes women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, footwear and accessories, a well as body wear. A kid’s collection will be introduced at a later date. The men’s collection recently re-launched after a hiatus — men were already buying various pieces from Alexander Wang that were considered to be unisex. 

The new Alexander Wang flagship is now probably the flashiest looking store on Bloor Street, featuring mirrored ceilings, mirror-polished stainless steel tube walls, sparkling concrete floors, columns and slick industrial scaffolding. Mirrors are used throughout the space as well as stainless steel fixtures. The store’s red coloured dressing rooms contrast with the bright main space. There’s also a private washroom in the store clad in mirrors, with low lighting and a nightclub feel. Music in the store creates a subdued, almost surreal feel. 

Arlin Markowitz and Alex Edmison of CBRE Toronto’s Urban Retail Team negotiated the lease on behalf of tenant Alexander Wang. CBRE co-listed the spaces at 110 Bloor with Philip Traikos and Carmen Siegel of Cushman & Wakefield. Landlord ProWinko Canada owns 110 Bloor. Design firm Stamuli designed the space, and has worked with Alexander Wang on other retail projects while local architect dkstudios assisted during the construction process.

More Alexander Wang stores are expected to open in Canada, according to sources. More details are to follow.

Until now, Alexander Wang has been distributed in Canada primarily at Holt Renfrew stores and at TNT The New Trend and The Webster in Toronto, as well as at Montreal-based SSENSE. The new Bloor Street Alexander Wang flagship store carries some pieces not available elsewhere. That includes a new limited edition shirt that the brand says will become a collectors item. 

Alexander Wang founded his brand in 2005 after attending two years at Parsons in New York City. In 2007 he presented his first women’s ready-to-wear collection and won the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award in 2008, the same year he launched a handbag collection. His first store opened in New York City’s Soho area in February of 2011. From 2012-2016 Alexander Wang was creative director at luxury brand Balenciaga. 

In the United States, Alexander Wang has three standalone stores. That includes a flagship at 103 Grand Street in New York City’s Soho area as well as locations at American Dream in New Jersey and South Coast Plaza in Orange County, California. 

In London UK, Alexander Wang operates a store in the affluent Mayfair area — London’s Equivalent to Yorkville in Toronto. In Milan, Italy, Alexander Wang operates a concession at the La Rinascente department store. 

Asia is where Alexander Wang has its biggest retail presence. That includes 25 stores in China, 10 in South Korea (a mix of standalone stores and concessions), eight in Japan (a mix of standalone stores and concessions), two stores in Bangkok Thailand, and one store in Singapore. Various upscale retailers around the carry the brand wholesale.

Alexander Wang is the latest retailer to open a flagship store on Toronto’s rapidly changing Bloor Street West luxury run. Other recent openings include Van Cleef & Arpels at 100 Bloor Street West, Bonpoint at 151 Bloor Street West, Ferragamo at 131 Bloor Street West and Browns Shoes at 60 Bloor Street West. More stores are on the way including at 110 Bloor where Alexander Wang is located — Saint Laurent is building a 10,000 square foot store in the complex along with Anne Fontaine. Rolex is building a store at 101 Bloor Street West, and three Richemont watch brands have leased space at the Park Hyatt Hotel. They join established flagships on Bloor Street including Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Gucci, Prada, Dior, Cartier, and others.