American fashion brand Michael Kors hosted a party Tuesday night for the opening of its first store in Lebanon. Dozens of women wandered through the shop at the opening event, ogling walls of the brand’s popular solid-color handbags – or carrying their own – and eyeing cases of watches and eyewear.
While the brand sells at department stores like ABC and BHV, the 126-square meter space on Fakhry Bey Street in the Beirut Souks area is its first standalone store in the country.
Michael Kors, who built the iconic, eponymous company selling men’s and women’s ready-to-wear and accessories, called Lebanon the perfect choice for a new store.
“Fashion and style have really become global over the past few years. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to open stores in new regions around the world, and I think Lebanon, which has always been renowned for its sophistication, is the perfect choice for our newest location,” he said in an announcement for the new shop. Kors himself was not in Beirut for the opening.
As one of the international Michael Kors Lifestyle stores, the new shop sells a mixture of accessories from a couple of the brand’s labels. Most of the store is a rainbow of colorful handbags decked with the designer’s iconic “MK” monogram. There’s also men’s and women’s watches, jewelry, perfume, footwear and sunglasses.
The popular brand is the latest foreign label to open a shop in the country in spite of its bleak security and economy. Other high-end brands that have opened standalone stores in Downtown recently include clothing brand Joseph and shoe makers Roger Vivier.
“It’s always exciting entering a new country,” said John D. Idol, the company’s CEO. “The Middle East is a key piece of our expansion strategy, and Beirut is a shopping destination for many fashion and luxury customers. We’re looking forward to introducing them to our jet set lifestyle.”
