Printemps unveiled details for its first overseas store, set to open in September in Qatar’s Doha Oasis complex, which include a hotel, theme park, residences, and entertainment facilities, including a cinema.
The concept for this retail outpost located in the cultural and tourist historical centre of the Qatari capital is a “new generation store that would blend a physical immersive experience and new technologies,” designed by architecture firm Yabu Pushelberg. At 323,000ft2 (30,008m2) spread over three floors, it will be the second-largest door for the retailer, after the Parisian flagship on Boulevard Haussmann. It will be home to some 550 brands, with 305 of the offering earmarked as exclusives.
The mix will include luxury heavyweights like Louis Vuitton, Dior, Gucci and Valentino; designers Dries van Noten and Jill Sander; as well as buzzy labels like Coperni and Ganni. Raf Simons and JW Anderson are slated to be among the exclusives, as are high-end bag label L’étrange and jeweller Lorenz Bäumer.
In addition to physical retail, Printemps’ e-commerce platform will be open to Qatar-based consumers, who will also be able to shop and pre-order the selection of the Doha store as well as the Haussmann flagship. Other services will include bespoke services, product customizations by artists and personal shoppers based in the Qatari and French capitals. Recent developments have included livestream shopping, the extension of its Printania loyalty program to overseas customers, and the opening of a circular fashion floor on the seventh floor of the Haussmann flagship. A new visual identity and brand platform are planned for March.