Upscale French fashion brand Zadig & Voltaire plans to open its first two freestanding Canadian stores this fall. The company has partnered with Aurora Realty Consultants for its Canadian brick-and-mortar expansion.

Zadig & Voltaire was founded in 1997 by Thierry Gillier, grand-nephew to André Gillier, co-founder of Lacoste. The brand’s name was inspired by the book by Voltaire, called Zadig ou la Destinée. Products are priced in the ‘contemporary’ range and include women’s and men’s ready-to-wear clothing as well as bags, footwear, accessories and fragrances.

The brand launched in Canada in the spring of 2013 at Holt Renfrew locations in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary. Holt’s Yorkdale store also carries the collection, according to Zadig’s website.

In the United States, Zadig & Voltaire operates 13 full-priced stores, one outlet, and shop-in-stores at seven Bloomingdale’s locations. The company’s freestanding stores are in Aspen CO, Las Vegas (Forum Shops at Caesars Palace), Los Angeles (x5: Beverly Hills Rodeo Drive, Sunset Blv, Melrose Avenue, Malibu, Venice [new store: Abbot Kinney Blvd]), Miami (x2: Lincoln Road and Design District), Washington DC (CityCenterDC) and New York City (x4: Madison Avenue, Bleecker Street, Meatpacking District and Mercer Street).

Negotiations are being finalized for Zadig & Voltaire’s first two Canadian stores, which will be located in Montreal and Toronto. The stores are expected to open in the fall of this year, and their exact locations will be revealed shortly once the deals can be announced. In 2018, Zadig & Voltaire will look to continue expanding in Canada, with the possibility of more locations in both Toronto and Montreal, as well new stores in additional markets.

The company is considering opening stores both on urban street fronts as well as within major shopping centres, ideally in the 1,500 to 2,000 square foot range. Zadig & Voltaire is working with Jeff Berkowitz of Aurora Realty Consultants for its Canadian store expansion.

*Images via Zadig & Voltaire.

Canadian Retail News From Around The Web: May 1, 2017