Tahari Opens Big at Saks Fifth Avenue
Worries about the weak dollar may have alarmed some retailers, yet New York–based fashion designer Elie Tahari remains bullish.
He recently opened what is now his biggest in-store boutique at Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills.
While Tahari already maintains 12 other mini-shops at Saks stores across the United States, the Beverly Hills location will take up the most space. It stretches across 5,000 square feet of the store’s fourth floor. Merchandise ranges from a $198 Sigourney blouse to a $1,398 Alexandra jacket. The high-fashion brands Tory Burch and Valentino Red also maintain mini-boutiques on the same floor.
Tahari’s Saks store was designed by Milan, Italy–based architect Piero Lissoni. The modern-looking space features clear glass-like fixtures and tables. The area is bathed in light, some of which emanates from a luminous chandelier. Tahari said that he will open stand-alone boutiques in the United States and overseas in 2008. But he did not elaborate on the retail expansion plans for his more-than $500 million business. Yet spreading risk seemed to be one reason to open stores outside of the United States.“When we have a weak dollar, we just sell more internationally,” Tahari said.—Andrew Asch
