Valentino opens its largest store in the world in Rome

By

Dominique Muret

Published
Apr 8, 2015

The luxury house has just opened its biggest store in the world at the heart of the Italian capital, not far from where it was founded at the end of the 50s by fashion designer Valentino Garavani.
 
The store stands on the famous Piazza di Spagna, near the historic Palazzo Gabrielli-Mignanelli, which is still home to the brand's studio. It encompasses three levels covering 20,000 ft², nearly 16,000 ft² of which is commercial space.

This return to its roots will be celebrated on July 9th with a major event during which Valentino will exceptionally present his haute couture collection. Normally the line shows in Paris, where it will return in January 2016.
 
The Italian luxury label, purchased in 2012 by Mayhoola, an investment firm belonging to the royal family of Qatar, has notably accelerated its development these last few years by investing 200 million euros between 2013 and 2014.

For 2014, it posted 664 million euros in revenue, up 36% compared to 2013, and an Ebitda of 102 million, recently confirmed CEO Stefano Sassi in the daily, Corriere della Sera.
 

Marble is a central design element in the Valentino flagship, figuring prominently in the monumental entrance. The store's design was developed by creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli in collaboration with London architect David Chipperfield. But the space dedicated to women on the second floor has been renewed with carbon fibre elements used to exhibit the products, displayed in a long white gallery.
 
The store hold's Valentino's various men's and women's ready-to-wear and accessories and offers a "Made to Measure" jeans service for men.