By Craig Patterson

Italian luxury brand Fendi has unveiled its first comprehensive ‘world of Fendi’ leased concession in Canada at Holt Renfrew’s 50 Bloor Street West flagship in Toronto, as Fendi expands its Canadian operations in partnership with Holts.

The boutique, which features nearly 3,000 square feet of selling space, carries the brand’s full line of products for both men and women. That includes a range of ready-to-wear for both genders, as well as an expansive assortment of footwear, leather goods, accessories and women’s furs.

*Accessories at the front of the store. Photo: Craig Patterson*

*Entrance to the men’s shop. Photo: Craig Patterson*

*Looking towards the accessory area from the women’s section. Photo: Craig Patterson*

The retail space includes luxurious features throughout. Light-coloured textured walls are punctuated by decorative panels of champagne, gold and grey, as well as several fur ‘tablets’ hanging from the walls. Handmade skill carpets in aqua and powder pink contrast with furniture such as modular velvet seating, not to mention whimsical features such as brass and marble occasion tables shaped like large earrings. Furniture and other fixtures were imported from Rome, according to the company.

The store is separated into four ‘rooms’, each carrying different product lines. A separated men’s area, the largest of its kind in Canada for Fendi, includes an assortment of clothing, bags and accessories as well as Fendi men’s footwear (which is the top-selling men’s category for the brand in Canada). A women’s ready-to-wear section includes apparel and furs as well as a seating area and a large dressing room. A women’s shoe salon features a range of styles, and the front of the store includes an expansive assortment of leather goods and small accessories.

*Women’s footwear and bags. Photo: Craig Patterson*

*Tables shaped like earrings. Photo: Craig Patterson*

On display are some pricier pieces such as a crocodile handbag priced well into the five figures — that particular item is under protective glass. Other bags are open to be touched by shoppers.

The boutique is located in the northwest corner on the ground floor of Holt Renfrew’s Mink Mile flagship. The space previously housed a beauty area and before that, menswear (prior to relocating to a standalone men’s store at 100 Bloor Street West).

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Men's Department. Photo: Craig Patterson

Men's Department

Photo: Craig Patterson

Fendi is the second ‘world of’ boutique at Holt Renfrew’s Bloor Street store. In March of 2018, Saint Laurent revealed an equally large concession with its own street-facing entrance at Holts. The store is undergoing an overhaul and more boutiques will be announced shortly. Holt Renfrew is adding ‘world of’ concessions to its Canadian stores, and we’ll discuss this at length in a feature article this month.

The Bloor Street Fendi boutique is one of three in Canada — the brand also operates leased concessions at Holt Renfrew in Vancouver and at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. This year, Fendi will move into a new space at Holts Yorkdale as the store is expanded for more ‘world of’ concessions. In Montreal this spring, as well, Fendi will open a leased concession at the expanded ‘Holt Renfrew Ogilvy’ on Ste-Catherine Street West which is expected to encompass about 700 square feet of retail space according to a previous announcement by Holts.

Craig Patterson, now based in Toronto, is the founder and Editor-in-Chief Retail Insider. He's also a retail and real estate consultant, retail tour guide and public speaker.

Follow him on Twitter @RetailInsider_, LinkedIn at Craig Patterson, or email him at: craig@retail-insider.com.