Balmain Lands in Atlanta, Krakoff’s House Party, Ahrendts Gets New Gig – WWD

NEW IN ATLANTA: Balmain has opened a retailer at Phipps Plaza in Atlanta, representing the primary U.S. retailer of its new idea primarily based on the Madison Avenue retailer in Manhattan, which opened in 2020.

The shop, situated at 3500 Peachtree Highway in Atlanta, options males’s and ladies’s ready-to-wear and equipment, along with eyewear.

Featured within the retailer is the pre-fall 2023 assortment with the autumn 2023 assortment launching in coming weeks. An unique purple, white and blue monogram Unicorn sneaker, retailing for $1,650, will solely be obtainable on the Atlanta retailer location.

The two,000-square-foot retailer combines the main points of a classical Parisian condominium — marble, brass rails, mirrors — with the economic parts, akin to uncooked uncovered ceiling, metal and concrete, which are typical in New York Metropolis.

Phipps Plaza is dwelling to such designer manufacturers as Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Brunello Cucinelli, Cartier, Celine, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Tom Ford and Versace.

That is Balmain’s sixth retailer within the U.S., following Madison Avenue, Bal Harbour, Florida, Houston, Las Vegas, and Melrose Place in Los Angeles. Extra shops will open in Dallas and South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California, within the fall. — LISA LOCKWOOD

HOUSEWARMING PARTY: On Friday night, John Hardy inventive director Reed Krakoff opened the doorways to his new dwelling out east. Krakoff, with spouse Delphine Krakoff, hosted an out of doors cocktail celebration at their newly constructed Amagansett beachfront dwelling in celebration of the jewellery model and the final weeks of summer season.

The occasion additionally marked the launch of John Hardy’s new Spear assortment, which debuted Aug. 1 with bracelets and a choker necklace.

“With Spear, I challenged myself to protect the inspiration of the model’s core designs so the model evolves seamlessly. Spear was designed to bridge custom with an edgy and trendy perspective,” stated Krakoff of his inspiration for the brand new line, which retails beginning at $1,995. Krakoff is approaching his one-year anniversary with the Bali-inspired model. “At John Hardy, there may be an infinite alternative to interpret and innovate one thing that’s already so stunning, which I discover extraordinarily inspiring and rewarding,” he stated.

Visitors — many sporting items from the brand new assortment — included Amy Lefévre, Athena Calderone, Candace Bushnell, Joey Wölffer, Coco Bassey, Dee Poku, Cynthia Rowley, Todd Snyder, and Sultan and Princess Deena Ali Al-Juhani Abdulaziz. — KRISTEN TAUER

AHRENDTS’ LATEST GIG: Angela Ahrendts has been appointed a senior working advisor at SKKY Companions, a non-public fairness agency based by Kim Kardashian and Jay Sammons.

SKKY Companions focuses on each management and minority investments in high-growth shopper and media firms throughout the buyer panorama, together with vogue, luxurious, meals and beverage, well being and wellness, magnificence and private care, and leisure.

Most lately, Ahrendts was senior vp, Apple Retail, the place she reimagined Apple’s retail expertise, redesigned the shops and re-crafted the roles of 70,000 staff globally. Earlier she was chief government officer at Burberry Group plc for practically 9 years, the place she tripled the enterprise and quadrupled the share value. Throughout her tenure at Burberry, Ahrendts was a member of the U.Ok.’s Prime Minister’s Enterprise Advisory Council and was named honorary dame commander of the Most Wonderful Order of the British Empire.

At SKKY Companions, she’s going to work with Kardashian, Sammons and the remainder of the SKKY crew to establish and consider potential funding alternatives whereas serving as a useful resource for the businesses SKKY invests in. She is predicted to carry her experience to SKKY to assist help the agency’s investments within the subsequent era of shopper manufacturers.

“As we proceed to develop SKKY Companions and give attention to figuring out strategic funding alternatives for the agency, it was the proper time to have Angela be a part of us,” stated Kardashian, cofounder and managing associate. “Angela’s wealth of management expertise and deep understanding of constructing manufacturers and influencing tradition makes her a pure match for the agency.”

Ahrendts stated, “Kim and Jay have created one thing actually extraordinary with SKKY Companions. Their give attention to backing the following era of industry-disrupting model with a mission to go away every firm they put money into higher than it was earlier than is actually inspiring. I sit up for bringing my experience to the crew, together with my expertise working with inventive enterprise leaders, as we put money into nice shopper firms and proceed to construct a fantastic agency.”

Ahrendts presently serves on the boards of Ralph Lauren Corp., Airbnb Inc. and WPP plc. — L.L.