M a g a z i n e: MARIA GRACHVOGEL Autumn/Winter 2012 London Fashion Week

18 February 2012

MARIA GRACHVOGEL Autumn/Winter 2012 London Fashion Week

MARIA GRACHVOGEL ANNOUNCES MAJOR EXPANSION PLANS IN ASIA
WITH FIVE STORES OPENING OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS

Maria Grachvogel, partnering with J&D Inv estment Ltd, is scheduled to open fiv e
stores ov er the next two years in Asia. The first, a 1430 sq ft stand alone store, is
scheduled to open in March 2011 in Taipei, Taiwan. Located at the Regent Galleria,
the retail shopping wing of the 5-star luxury hotel, Grand Formosa Regent Taipei (part
of the Four Seasons Group), the store will act as the concept for the Maria
Grachv ogel roll out to the Asian Market.
J&D Inv estment Limited (J&D) is the luxury lifestyle arm of Singapore-based Ferrell
International Limited. J&D is a branding and lifestyle business dedicated to
distributing and acquiring luxury fashion apparel and accessories and proprietary
brands.
“We are extremely excited to be Maria’s partner in Asia as we believ e the brand is
poised to turn its burgeoning critical acclaim into commercial success. Maria
Grachv ogel encapsulates the essence of luxury redefined, where quality, exclusivity
and craftsmanship are of utmost importance”, comments J&D Inv estment Ltd
Executive Director Jeanna Chan.
Within the next two years, J&D Inv estment Ltd will identify and open four additional
retail sites for the luxury womenswear brand, either as stand alone stores in v iable
locations or ‘shop-in-shops’ within major, suitable department stores.
Maria Grachvogel comments “We hav e had a growing interest from Asia so it is
hugely exciting to be announcing a partnership with J&D Investment Ltd. With their
experience in luxury retail and brand management, we believ e they are the ideal
partners to launch us in such an important market for the Maria Grachvogel brand. I
am delighted to be able to confirm these plans prior to London Fashion Week.”

MARIA GRACHVOGEL OPENS NEW FLAGSHIP STORE IN LONDON

Maria Grachvogel is celebrating the opening of her new London flagship store at 18 Culford Gardens,
SW3. The official launch takes place on the 16
th
September, on the evening of her London Fashion
Week show, following the soft launch opening in August. The store has been designed by Russell Sage,
the designer behind the interiors at the Savoy Grill, the restaurant at Claridges, the Zetter Townhouse
and Stapleford Park.
A three storey 2500 square foot Victorian townhouse houses the new flagship store displaying Maria’s
Ready to Wear collection, an adjoining atelier and Maria’s private office. The store also incorporates a
more intimate space dedicated to the designer’s couture and bridal lines and VIP customer fittings
while a bespoke trouser bar showcases the label’s renowned ‘Magic Pants.’
The store concept encapsulates Maria’s love of contemporary luxury, clean lines and continuity that is
evident throughout the store, couture space and adjoining office. Although split over the different
levels, the entire space has been designed as a ‘home’ rather than a store and the eclectic interior
reflects this; specially sourced pieces such as a 1930s pop up cocktail bar, walnut and chrome
movable library and Deco tables sit alongside spacious changing rooms. The luxurious retail
environment references the artist Tamara de Lempicka and the Art Deco movement with black
Perspex, mirror detail and the use of original 1930s furniture to display leather goods, footwear and
jewellery. The neutral colour scheme is accented with black and white; a pale, polished limestone floor
features alongside brushed steel rails and is highlighted with an upholstered fabric wall in Maria’s
signature hand-painted Artwork print. The wall has been designed so that the fabric can be changed
seasonally, adding to the versatility of the space while customers will be offered the option to purchase
the various chairs and foot stools upholstered in similar fabrics.
Maria on the store: ‘This is such a wonderful and unique space that is absolutely perfect for us. I fell in
love with it instantly after a long search for the right ‘home’. My vision was to create an intimate space
that would not only inspire me creatively but would provide a retreat for everyone who comes to visit
us. It is so important to me to keep my atelier within the store and be close to the woman who wears
the clothes – after all, making a woman feel fabulous is at the heart of all my work. We have found
some wonderful original Art Deco furniture, all of which has been sourced individually from all over
Europe. I wanted it to feel like a collection that had been built up over time, like you would have in your
home. My absolute favorite the pop up cocktail cabinet housed in a coffee table. It was also important
to me that the space was flexible and could develop over time. I painted some curtains and furniture
using my Artwork Print technique, all of which will be available to buy. When they are sold, it is lovely to
have the ability to replace them with something different.’

Designer name: Maria Grachvogel
Origin: London
Design background: “I decided I wanted to be a fashion designer aged 8 and I started cutting and making clothes from around age 12. My initial learning was at school in the Fashion and Textiles class where I learned some basics of pattern cutting and assembly. Then my own fascination for cut, form and drape led me to develop my own blocks and cutting techniques which have been the basis of my work. It was always my dream to be a designer with my own label and I therefore started my own business when I was 18. I was so determined and focused I didn't even consider the value working for another designer would bring.”
Design signatures: “Contemporary, versatile pieces that make women feel amazing. I use unconventional methods of cutting and fitting to create clothes that work in harmony with a woman’s body.”
Career highlight: “I am so excited to have opened a Maria Grachvogel store in Singapore last October; it has been a phenomenal success. We are lucky to have an amazing location in Paragon and a growing loyal following of clients in the region. I was there for the launch and loved being on the shop floor for a few days - my greatest joy comes from observing the moment when a woman tries on one of my pieces for the first time. I love to see the transformation that occurs in how she feels about herself and how everything about her oozes self-confidence.”
How would you describe the Maria Grachvogel woman?
“A strong, confident woman who is drawn to my collection. She has a strong sense of her own personal style.”
Trademark piece: “The most fabulously cut trousers, catsuits and my artwork prints.”
What is your brand philosophy?
“It is all about empowerment. I believe you should always notice the woman first; the dress should be there to empower rather than overpower her.”
Price range at retail: £295 (tops and knitwear) - £2,250 (artwork print long dresses)
Three autumn/winter 2012 inspirations:
“This season our woman has a little bit of Deco glamour about her. The feeling is rich and jewel like but also light and sparkly. My collection is really all about the woman; the woman is where my inspiration begins and the place that I always come back to.”
What does 2012 hold for your brand?
“2011 has seen the opening of two Asian flagships, and two shop in shops. We look forward to continued success in the region and opening more stores. We have been very retail focussed in the past few years, and going forward we would also like to concentrate on expanding our distribution by wholesale. We want to work with select clients worldwide and have taken on a salesperson purely to concentrate on this. We have had a fantastic first season on ShopBop.com, which has given us a successful entry into the US market and we hope for added presence this season. SS12 was our first season working with Atalanta Welleron shoes and I am looking forward to retailing the debut collection. I’m also really excited about the AW12 shoes, they are going to be amazing!”
What is your favourite decade in fashion?
“As a creator I am always moving forward and it is all about the now. I have to inhabit the woman that I am now and design for what feels right in the present.”
Where do you go in London to seek artistic inspiration?
“I collect inspiration from all around me. I’m inspired by colours, shapes, travels and things that I see in my daily life. You can find inspiration anywhere. I walk a total of four miles to and from the studio every day and seem to find a lot of inspiration and clarity in that time. My clients’ needs as women, as well as my own, are also a constant source of inspiration to me.”