US clothing retailer J.Crew will open a fourth store in London‘s premium Sloane Square.
The 4,500 sq ft store, to open in September 2014, follows openings at Brompton Cross in South Kensington, a flagship on Regent Street and a store on Lamb‘s Conduit Street last November.
The two-story shop will sell men‘s and women‘s collections and include a shoe and handbag destination and cashmere shop, as well as a Ludlow suiting shop.
“Sloane Square was on our radar as an area that we liked, and the space came available more quickly than anticipated,” president and executive creative director Jenna Lyons told fashion site WWD.
J.Crew will partner with charity Buglife to create a vertical wall of bees and other bugs outside the store to boost awareness of the importance of bees for flower pollination to protect the greater ecosystem.
Meanwhile, the retailer is developing a new ‘Mercentile‘ brand following criticism that its prices were inflated.
In response, Lyons said: “There is always a dialogue about price: There are import taxes and duties, and the higher cost of doing business in London. But it‘s not our game to inflate prices for no reason.”
J.Crew Group operates 454 retail stores (including 267 J.Crew, 66 Madewell and 122 Factory stores and posted a £252m profit for the fourth quarter of 2013.
Hugh Seaborn, Chief Executive Officer of Cadogan, commented: “J Crew is a phenomenal brand which should further cement Sloane Square‘s reputation as an exciting shopping destination.”
J.Crew joins retailers Club Monaco and Michael Kors who will be opening nearby later in the year.
