Prada's Gala Return to South Coast Plaza
Prada South Coast Plaza's debut party
Gucci, Chanel, Dior, Ferragamo. The whole crew of iconic heritage brands maintains big boutiques at South Coast Plaza, yet there has been no Prada boutique at the Costa Mesa retail center since the 1990s, and its absence was noticed, said philanthropist Pame Schmider. “When they moved out of South Coast, I asked why?” said Schmider, the chair of Angelitos de Oro, a nonprofit that raises funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County.
The answer might be that Prada was just looking for the right space. On May 4, it produced a party to celebrate the store’s debut in a new 5,070-square-foot space in South Coast Plaza’s Jewel Court, which was formerly occupied by a Burberry boutique.
The new Prada offers its celebrated accessories and women’s ready-to-wear as well as men’s apparel, footwear and accessories. The South Coast Prada also will offer exclusives. A print bag featuring a print of hibiscus-style flowers was Prada's exclusive for the South Coast Plaza debut.
The party’s guest list include Orange County luminaries such as Anton Segerstrom, general manager of South Coast Plaza; Sarah Bancroft, curator of The Orange County Museum of Art; and Kedric Francis, editor of Rivera magazine, a leading chronicler of Orange County life, fashion, dining and arts.
Francis noted the return of Prada to South Coast Plaza was a sign that the Orange County market for luxury retail was humming along nicely during a shaky economy. The Prada store had been open for business since May 1 and had become a top destination for shoppers, according to Debra Gunn Downing, the executive director of marketing at South Coast Plaza.
Anton Segerstrom said South Coast Plaza had frequently been in contact over the years with Prada to discuss opportunities for the fashion house to return to the Costa Mesa luxury center. “It’s one of the world’s great designers. They have a huge audience here,” he said. And what other retailers are in discussions to move into South Coast Plaza? “Everybody you can imagine,” Segerstrom said.
South Coast Plaza General Manager Anton Segerstrom, left, and Sarah Bancroft, curator of The Orange County Museum of Art
One of the bags exclusive to the Prada at South Coast Plaza
