*Thurlow Street, Vancouver, on April 16 2016. Photo: Helen Siwak of @Eco.Lux.Luv*

French luxury fashion brand Saint Laurent Paris (aka 'Yves Saint Laurent') will open its first Canadian location this year in downtown Vancouver. The store will be located in the city's burgeoning 'Luxury Zone', and will measure about 5,000 square feet over two levels.

Saint Laurent will have the address 746 Thurlow Street, and will be located between Moncler and Prada, in The Carlyle retail complex. CBRE has been involved with leasing spaces in the Carlyle, which also includes upscale tenants De Beers and Tory Burch. Hoarding for the new Saint Laurent store went up over the weekend.

Company representatives were in Vancouver last week, confirming that the city's Saint Laurent store will feature the brand's women's and men's ready-to-wear collections, as well as accessories and footwear. Women's fashions will be on the main floor, menswear will be located on the second level, and a basement space will be dedicated to offices/storage. Saint Laurent women's ready-to-wear and accessory boutiques opened within Vancouver's flagship Nordstrom in September of 2015, and a limited selection of men's Saint Laurent fashions are carried at Leone and Holt Renfrew in downtown Vancouver.

When it opens, Vancouver's 5,000 square foot Saint Laurent store will be one of the biggest in North America. Only its New York City (14,000 square feet at E. 57 Street) and Beverly Hills (10,000 square feet on Rodeo Drive) units are larger. Saint Laurent currently operates 17 freestanding and two outlet stores in the Unites States.

Saint Laurent will join a substantial number of luxury brands in Vancouver's expanding 'Luxury Zone'. Directly across Thurlow Street, Strellson, Versace and Brunello Cucinelli opened stores late last year. Nearby luxury brands include Burberry, Escada, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Tiffany & Co. and Dior, and opening this summer will be large licensed locations for Rolex and Stefano Ricci. French jeweller Van Cleef & Arpels will join them in early 2017.

Last month, designer Hedi Slimani made news when he exited Kering-owned Saint Laurent after completely transforming the brand's image. Versace protege Anthony Vaccarello has taken over.

Canadian Retail News From Around The Web: April 18, 2016