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Fred Segal Heads to Tokyo in Global Expansion
Fred Segal, the Los Angeles nameplate launched in 1961 by denim guru Fred Segal, is setting up stakes in Tokyo with its first retail complex outside of the United States.
The company, now majority owned by New York–based Sandow, announced it plans to unveil a lifestyle center next year that will occupy three of five buildings in a converted railway site at 13 Daikanyamacho Shibuya-ku in Tokyo.
The complex, to be known as Fred Segal Daikanyama, will have a well-curated mix of luxury products for men and women as well as home and lifestyle categories from both independent brands and Fred Segal–branded merchandise.
The collection of stores will encompass an ever-changing mix of both local and international emerging, up-and-coming designers as well as specialty merchandise to appeal to Japan’s trendsetters.
The complex will have a café, spa and other luxuries to appeal to Japanese shoppers who frequent this upscale shopping district.
The Fred Segal store is the first of many in Japan as Sandow partners with Mark Styler Co. Ltd. as they launch a chain of Fred Segal stores.
“The original Fred Segal stores in LA have always appealed to the Japanese consumer who has an appreciation for cutting-edge style and Southern California culture,” said Paul Blum, Fred Segal’s chief executive. “Tokyo is absolutely the right market for us to launch Fred Segal’s first international location.”
The Tokyo store will open in spring 2015. Meanwhile, the company said it has plans to open seven stores in Las Vegas this August.
Two years ago, Fred Segal Inc. sold its worldwide licensing rights to Sandow for an undisclosed sum. Not included in the deal were the two Fred Segal retail complexes located on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles and the other in Santa Monica, Calif.
In late 2012, one-half of the Santa Monica compound was sold for $41.2 million to DK Broadway LLC. This past May, several boutiques had to vacate the structure at 500 Broadway so that the development firm could start construction on a seven-story, mixed-use structure that will including apartments. There are still stores at the complex located at 420 Broadway.
