Author: ellacottrell1

FONDATION VASARELY, SELFRIDGES AND PACO RABANNE UNVEIL MAJOR VICTOR VASARELY PROJECT

Thursday 13 January – Thursday 31 March

Victor Vasarely, Okta Cor (1973) Acrylic on canvas.

Image credit: Fabrice Lepeltier and Fondation Vasarely

Thursday 13 January 2022 – In partnership with the Fondation Vasarely and Paco Rabanne, Selfridges will present Universe, a celebration of the work of Op Art movement pioneer, Victor Vasarely (b.1906 Pécs, Hungary, d. 1997 Paris) an innovator of 20th-century abstract art, best known for his pioneering geometric designs and perception-shifting imagination. Universe will include an exhibition of 55 works by the artist, none of which have been shown in the UK in over 50 years. 37 will be available for sale, alongside a series of specially commissioned NFTs. Funds raised will go to the Fondation Vasarely Museum, Aix-en-Provence, an ‘Architectonic Centre’ for the artist’s archive and large-scale installations, to support restoration of key artworks. 

Universe is a continuation of Selfridges’ commitment to art which has been an integral part of the brand since it first opened in 1909. Visitors will be able to experience the optical tricks, illusions and kinetic energy of Vasarely’s work across the Oxford Street store, including the storefront where each of the 24 windows will be individually wrapped in Vasarely’s iconic designs. In a progression of Vasarely’s investigation of the fourth dimension, Universe includes a virtual reality environment, a metaverse, in which visitors will be able to interact with Vasarely’s calibrated patterns and hypnotic oscillations.

For more information about the project please visit selfridges.com/vasarely

The project will also celebrate the launch of Paco Rabanne’s Spring Summer 2022 collection for which Creative Director Julien Dossena has taken the work of Vasarely as his starting point. Dossena worked closely with the Fondation Vasarely to reimagine some of Vasarely’s iconic geometric Op Art patterns into printed, jacquard, chainmail and sequined fabrics. Ready-to-wear and accessories from the new collection will launch throughout the season at Selfridges (available to buy or rent).

This multi-layered creative collaboration between cultural institution, fashion house and retail brand will use Vasarely’s work as a lens through which to explore new ideas. Pre-loved fashion and lifestyle products, using or inspired by Vasarely’s design, including his 1969 screenprint series ‘Hommage à l’hexagone’, have been commissioned and curated by Selfridges’ buying team.

In The Selfridges Corner Shop, Vasarely Op Art will meet surfboards, skateboards, hand-painted watches from Bamford Watch Department and Globetrotter luggage. A Vasarely Gift Shop edit will feature over 50 products – all within a concealed concept space wrapped in aluminium scaffold, the preferred architectural material for both Rabanne & Vasarely.

Sebastian Manes, Selfridges Executive Buying & Merchandising Director, has said: “As Selfridges looks to the future, we continue to find inspiration in the past. In the case of Victor Vasarely and Paco Rabanne, we have more than fifty years of proposals for the future to explore. I love the idea of bringing Vasarely’s art to a social space like Selfridges – alongside the distinct identity of Paco Rabanne – and using their vision as way to bring emotion, connection and accessibility to the experience.”

Pierre Vasarely, President of Fondation Vasarely has said: “Fondation Vasarely is delighted to be partnering with Selfridges and Paco Rabanne to celebrate the work of Victor Vasarely and to bring some of his most important works to London for the first time in over 50 years. Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of his death, Universe is a unique opportunity to introduce his work to a new audience and we’re delighted to be able to bring together examples of his iconic designs from across his career, including works on canvas, paper, ceramics, enamelled aluminium and tapestries which showcase the extent of his artistic universe.”

ENDS

Left to right:

Photo credit (c) Fabrice Lepeltier (c) Fondation Vasarely_Victor Vasarely_ Orion MC_1963_129cm x 122cm

Photo credit (c) Fabrice Lepeltier (c) Fondation Vasarely_Victor Vasarely_Ondonkto JG_1972-73_140cm x 139cm

Photo credit (c) Fabrice Lepeltier (c) Fondation Vasarely_Victor Vasarely_Vega Ockta_1972-74_143cm x 142cm

Notes to Editors:

For further PRESS information and images, please contact:

Bruno Barba

Senior PR Manager (Brand) Bruno.Barba@seIfridges.co.uk

Ella Cottrell

PR Assistant (Brand) Ella.Cottrell@Selfridges.co.uk

Antonio Pignone

Senior PR Manager (Fashion & Beauty) Antonio.Pignone@seIfridges.co.uk

Hannah Vitos at Rees & Co| hannah@reesandco.com | +44 (0)7834593767

About Victor Vasarely

Victor Vasarely (b.1906 Pécs, Hungary, d. 1997 Paris) was a celebrated French artist who rose to prominence in his lifetime as a pioneer of the Op Art movement in the mid 1950s. Vasarely was a great proponent of the idea that art should be accessible to all and used his background in graphic design to create geometric designs which pushed the boundaries of abstract art to produce mesmerising optical illusions. His output was prolific and included paintings, screenprints and large-scale installations. Some of Vasarely’s most famous public-facing commissions included the Renault logo and the cover for David Bowie’s highly influential album Space Oddity (1969). In 2019 the Centre Pompidou, Paris held a major retrospective of his work.

About the Fondation Vasarely

The Fondation Vasarely is an architectonic centre in Aix-en-Provence, built between 1973 and 1976 by the French artist Victor Vasarely. Conceived by Vasarely and built to his design, his works are integrated into the architecture of the entire building, including its façade and internal walls. Fondation Vasarely has been classified as a Historic Monument since 2013 and has an annual attendance of around 100,000 visitors. In 2020 the Fondation was also awarded Musée de France designation. The Fondation was created to popularise art and make it accessible to all, testifying to Victor Vasarely’s avant-garde view of the role of the artist in the 20th century.

About Paco Rabanne

An innovative fashion house as singular today as when it was founded in 1966, Paco Pabanne stands out for unifying an avant-garde vision with modem values. Since the earliest collections through the 60s and 70s, the Paris-based brand has explored ideas of radical craft — from the use of metal mesh as fabric that contours the body, to assemblages of unconventional materials that create kinetic silhouettes. Worn by the likes of Brigitte Bardot, Jane Birkin, Françoise Hardy, and Audrey Hepburn, Paco Rabanne’s daring designs became iconic and identifiable. They signaled an evolving, liberated expression of femininity — one that subverted traditional codes while appearing effortless in attitude. With the arrival of Julien Dossena as artistic director in 2013, the house became infused with a youthful vibrancy reflected in his eclectic references and inspired creation. Through ongoing collaborations with established artistic talents such as Marie-Amelie Sauvó, Marc Ascoli and Peter Saville, Paco Rabanne takes a dynamic view of its archives and an inclusive approach to its community. Beyond its retail network, the brand has developed a strong digital presence — both through the web site and with online vendors — which has allowed a new generation to discover how the heritage of Paco Rabanne remains consistently in step with the times.

http://www.pacorabanne.com

Selfridges and the arts

Selfridges has had a long-standing commitment to supporting the arts since its first store opened in 1909 to the most creative window scheme London had ever seen – an homage to works by French painters Fragonard and Watteau. In the past 15 years alone, Selfridges has given its patronage to an ever-increasing number of initiatives focusing on emerging artists in particular; and supporting and engaging with the creative communities in the cities its stores call home in London, Birmingham and Manchester. Selfridges has on-going relationships with IKON, The Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Frieze, The Whitworth, Manchester International Festival and Bold Tendencies. It has commissioned site-specific work to or has exhibited work by artists as diverse as Yayoi Kusama, Fernando Botero, Tracey Emin, Marc Quinn, Sam Taylor Wood, Spencer Tunick, Banksy, Brian Eno, Conrad Shawcross, David LaChapelle and Joana Vasconcelos, Matthew Darbyshire, Yinka Ilori, Jonathan Scofield, Osman Yousefzada, Sharon Eyal among many others.

THE CENTRAL GROUP AND SIGNA HOLDING TO ACQUIRE SELFRIDGES GROUP FROM THE WESTON FAMILY

  • The Central Group and Signa Holding to acquire Selfridges Group from the Weston family
  • Transaction will create one of the world’s leading omni-channel luxury department store groups
  • Long-standing partnership between Central Group (“Central”) and Signa Holding (“Signa”) to build on the legacy of the late Galen Weston including investing significantly in all the Group’s stores in the UK, the Netherlands and Ireland and developing the site adjacent to the Oxford Street store

Central, a family-owned retail, real estate and hospitality group and Signa, one of Europe’s leading real estate and retail groups, have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Selfridges Group, a leading luxury retail group, from the Weston family.

The Selfridges Group portfolio comprises 18 iconic and leading department stores, including Selfridges in London, Manchester and Birmingham, de Bijenkorf in Netherlands, Brown Thomas and Arnotts in Ireland, their associated e-commerce platforms and the properties in London, Manchester and five locations in Ireland.

The transaction will see Selfridges Group become part of the combined Central and Signa portfolio of luxury department stores, which owns Rinascente in Italy, Illum in Denmark, Globus in Switzerland and The KaDeWe Group, which operates in Germany and Austria (starting in 2024). The pro-forma annual turnover for the combined department stores portfolio was EUR 5 billion in 2019 and is projected to grow to more than EUR 7 billion by 2024.

The combination will create a complementary portfolio of leading European luxury department stores, which will enable innovation know-how and knowledge-sharing to be shared across different locations.

The late W. Galen Weston acquired the world-famous Selfridges store in 2003. He formed Selfridges Group in 2010, bringing his five heritage department store brands under one group. Working closely with his daughter, Alannah Weston, and the leadership team, Weston invested heavily in his vision for a world-renowned group of luxury department stores, charging the management team with the complete transformation of each business into the globally recognized, iconic omni-channel brands that they are today. The Weston family and the Selfridges Group leadership team have led the way in reinventing retail, placing creativity, customer experience and sustainability at the heart of their strategy.

Central and Signa will operate all the stores in Selfridges Group including Selfridges, de Bijenkorf, Brown Thomas and Arnotts, which will continue to be run by the existing leadership teams, as well as their e-commerce platforms and operating companies. The Canadian business, Holt Renfrew, will remain with the Weston family.

The Central and Signa 50/50 partnership will build on Selfridges’ strong foundations and luxury online customer offering, developing an integrated and compelling omni-channel proposition, with exclusive and market-leading online stores as an extension of the physical stores.

Tos Chirathivat, Executive Chairman and CEO of Central, said: “It is a privilege to be acquiring Selfridges Group, including the flagship Oxford Street store, which has been at the centre of London’s most famous shopping street for over 100 years. As family businesses, Central and Signa will focus on delivering exceptional and inclusive store and digital experiences for both local residents and overseas visitors alike, to ensure we can give all the stores in Selfridges Group a bright future for the next 100 years. We are looking forward to working with the management teams and the colleagues across Selfridges Group, as we seek to create a world-leading luxury, retail company.”

Dieter Berninghaus, Chairman of the Executive Board of Signa, said: “We are excited to be acquiring Selfridges Group in partnership with Central. Together we will work with the world’s leading architects to sensitively reimagine the stores in each location, transforming these iconic destinations into sustainable, energy-efficient, modern spaces, whilst staying true to their architectural and cultural heritage. We plan to fulfil the vision of the late Galen Weston to deliver his masterplan and create a high-quality experience retailing environment for our customers and brand partners.”

Alannah Weston, Chairman of Selfridges Group, said: “The acquisition of Selfridges Group by Central and Signa is testament to the successful realisation of my father’s vision for an iconic group of beautiful, truly experiential, department stores. Creative thinking has been at the heart of everything we did together for nearly twenty years and sustainability is deeply embedded in the business. I am proud to pass the baton to the new owners who are family businesses that take a long-term view. I know they will fully embrace that vision and continue to empower our incredible team to take the Group from strength to strength.”

Stefano Della Valle, Chairman of CGE Investments Limited (Central Group Europe), commented: “Selfridges Group is Central and Signa’s second department store acquisition during the Covid-19 global pandemic, and this represents a huge vote of confidence in both city centre retail and the future of the department store.”

“These incredible stores are interwoven into the fabric of city life. We take a long-term view that people live and visit cities because they want to socialise, eat, drink, shop and enjoy incredible experiences and we are confident that when the pandemic recedes, these joys in life will return. Selfridges Group is an incredible addition to our portfolio, and I am confident that we can build on the already strong foundations with leading-edge customer data, innovative new loyalty schemes and a strong omni-channel offer to further grow the business.” 

Anne Pitcher, Global Managing Director of Selfridges Group, said: “I am proud that over the last two decades of Weston Family ownership, we have built Selfridges Group into the sustainable, innovative and world-leading retail group it is today. Our relationships with our brand partners have never been stronger; our e-commerce platforms are well-invested and going from strength to strength; and our sustainability initiatives position us at the forefront of reinventing retail. We could not have done any of this without our teams and I would like to place on the record my thanks, to every one of them for helping make this business what it is today.”

“We are joining an impressive group of leading luxury department stores across Europe presenting a fantastic opportunity for the business and reinforcing our leading status and position in global retail.”

The parties expect closing to occur upon the receipt of regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of other closing conditions.

Media enquiries

Please contact pressoffice@selfridgesgroup.com.

For Selfridges Group

Please see link to download Selfridges Group photographs: https://we.tl/t-tccfMQWcf0

Notes to Editors

CENTRAL AND SIGNA PARTNERSHIP

CENTRAL and SIGNA are working together exclusively in Europe to acquire Selfridges Group as partners, leveraging their complementary capabilities built on a firm partnership as leaders in the real estate and retail industry.

CENTRAL

Thailand-based CENTRAL, owned by the Chirathivat family for four generations, is a leading multi-format and multi-category retail group focusing on physical and digital retail formats, hotels, restaurants and real estate across Southeast Asia and Europe. CENTRAL began its expansion into Europe with the acquisition of Rinascente in 2011. After acquiring the Danish department store Illum in 2013, CENTRAL partnered with SIGNA to jointly invest in and develop The KaDeWe Group in 2015, followed by Globus in 2020. As a result, Europe has become a key market and strategic focus for CENTRAL, with significant senior management presence across various locations, including London.

SIGNA

SIGNA Holding founded in the late 1990´s is a leading European real estate and retail group which is fully privately owned.

SIGNA Retail Selection AG, Switzerland holds various retail businesses and employs more than 36,000 people across its retail operations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Signa Retail is one of the leading omni-channel retail groups in Continental Europe. Its loyalty program with more than 15 million members is one of the largest of its kind. The group achieves an annual retail turnover of more than €8 billion (2021/22) of which approximately a quarter is generated online. The SIGNA Retail portfolio comprises banners like KaDeWe Group, GLOBUS and the NYSE listed SIGNA Sports United, the world’s leading sports e-commerce and technology platform.

SIGNA Real Estate is one of the biggest property owners and real estate developers in Europe with a strong focus on Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy and has created over the last 20 years an unparallel track-record in real estate development. SIGNA´s property portfolio is well diversified across residential, office, high-street retail and hospitality and includes some of the most prestigious ultra-prime assets such as the KaDeWe luxury department store and the UPPER West Tower in Berlin, the Park Hyatt, Goldenes Quartier and the iconic Postsparkasse in Vienna, Alte Akademie & Oberpollinger in Munich, the famous Hotel Bauer in Venice and the legendary Chrysler Building in New York. The combined gross asset value of SIGNA Real Estate amounts to more than €24 billion. SIGNA doesn’t just focus on the individual property; it reconceptualizes issues such as urban development, sustainability, diversity of use, networking and mobility.

Selfridges Group

Selfridges Group is a collection of international department stores that exist to imagine and create a sustainable future for their people and customers. With 25 stores worldwide across 5 brands, Selfridges Group includes Arnotts and Brown Thomas in Ireland, de Bijenkorf in the Netherlands, Holt Renfrew in Canada, and Selfridges in the UK. Each brand has a distinct history and story, united by the creativity and innovation that has made Selfridges Group the world leader in experiential retail. The Group combines a unique and engaging customer experience in iconic stores with a scaled digital offer with global reach.

Selfridges Group is a recognised leader in driving the sustainability agenda with ground-breaking campaigns Project Ocean and Project Earth launched in 2011 and 2020 setting new standards for the retail sector. Ground-breaking initiatives such as Resellfridges and Circular Room have helped ensure the business continues to set the pace as customers think more about circularity.

Selfridges

Selfridges was founded by Harry Gordon Selfridge, changing the world of retail forever when the first store was opened on Oxford Street in 1909. Since then, the brand has opened three stores in Manchester and Birmingham.

Selfridges has been a key reinventor of retail with innovation across in-store experiences and brand partnerships with leaders in luxury. This includes Dior at Alto rooftop collaboration, the opening of Selfridges Cinema, and helping to launch industry disruptors and emerging retail innovators including Charlotte Tilbury and Pangaia. 

A leader in sustainability, Selfridges launched its sustainability strategy with Project Ocean in 2011, a complete store takeover spearheaded by Alannah Weston that raised awareness of the issue of overfishing and ocean pollution. In 2020, the brand’s sustainable credentials grew further with the launch of Project Earth, marking a new chapter in the brand’s history – the start of a challenging yet vital journey to change the way we shop. The initiative builds on the industry-leading steps Selfridges has taken over the last 10 years to place sustainability at the heart of the business by committing to reinventing materials, models and mindsets underpinned by the Company’s commitment to Science Based Targets and to achieve Net-zero carbon by 2040 in line with the Paris Agreement.

Selfridges has been transformed in line with a long-term vision that harks back to the core principles of Harry Gordon Selfridge himself, whose high standards of style, service and desire to entertain run through each store today. Selfridges was named “Best Retailer” at the Positive Luxury Awards 2020, a “Best 25 Big Company To Work For” 2020 as awarded by The Sunday Times, and voted “Best Department Store in the World” at the Global Department Store Summits 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018. From weddings to the skate bowl, Selfridges continues to generate new ways to surprise and amaze its customers in London, Manchester, Birmingham and at selfridges.com.

Brown Thomas Arnotts

Brown Thomas is a longstanding pillar of Irish retailing opening its first site in Grafton Street in 1849. The business was the first to be acquired by the Weston Family in the creation of Selfridges Group, bought by Galen Weston in 1971. With a landmark store on Grafton Street, at the heart of the capital’s shopping district, Brown Thomas Arnotts offers a range of designer brands in Menswear, Womenswear, Accessories, Beauty and Homewares. It is the ultimate destination for shopping and socialising and is heralded as the reference point for luxury in Ireland. The brand continues to successfully grow in the market with the long-anticipated Brown Thomas Dundrum store opening in 2022 alongside the recent Arnotts Flagship Refurbishment. Arnotts joined Selfridges Group in 2015 and continues to build upon its unique heritage.

De Bijenkorf
De Bijenkorf is an inspiring, surprising and creative omnichannel destination, offering accessible luxury to customers in seven stores across the Netherlands. Founded in 1870, de Bijenkorf blurs the boundaries between commerce and culture continuing to surprise the market with a curated range of fashion, design and beauty brands. The brand was acquired by the Weston family in 2011 and since then has continued to see ever changing activations including the Room on the Roof artists residents.

Advisers

Citi is acting as financial adviser to Central and Signa, with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP serving as legal adviser. Retail Capital Partners AG as strategic and commercial advisors and Pinsent Masons LLP are also advising Central and Signa. Credit Suisse is acting as financial adviser to the Weston family and Selfridges Group with Allen & Overy serving as legal adviser.

INTRODUCING THE UGG X TELFAR SPACE AT SELFRIDGES LONDON

NYC-based Telfar is one of the most exciting labels to come from America in recent memory, and the much-hyped collaborations are always a major fashion event on their own. The latest joint effort with UGG comes packed with fluffy pieces just in time for winter, including this bucket hat. A streetwear classic engineered for the cold snaps, it’s rendered in soft fleece trimmed with cosy shearling including a logo patch to earn nods from those in the know. Ranging from fast-food chains to the Liberian Olympic team, Telfar’s collaborations are legendary, and UGG x Telfar is the latest to have the fashion world aflutter.

You can find the UGG x Telfar space at the Accessories Hall on the Ground Floor at Selfridges London.

FEAR OF GOD DEBUTS FIRST PHYSICAL RETAIL LOCATION AT SELFRIDGES LONDON

American luxury fashion label Fear of God debuts its first physical retail location at Selfridges London, marking their first brick and mortar concept globally.

Located within Menswear on 1, the space designed by Jerry Lorenzo, in partnership with Willo Perron of Perron-Roettinger, incorporates the same spirit as Fear of God’s Los Angeles HQ, keeping the distinctive shapes, pieces, warmth, and tone.

The space will be home to Fear of God’s mainline collection, featuring the brand’s Italian-made suiting, hand-knits and accessories, paired with American-made sportswear.

Custom mirror-finished stainless-steel racks and bladed shelving set against matte grey plaster walls and warm grey carpet serve as the foundational canvas of the space, showcasing the Fear of God’s modern vision of menswear rooted in the easy elegance of American luxury.

“We worked closely with Willo Perron’s team who we partnered with on designing and concepting our HQ in LA. We wanted to extend the same spirit of our local environment to our retail space in London, keeping the same shapes and tones and allowing the pieces in the space to remain honest to the materials they are made up of. The goal was to find a way to tie a beautiful thread between all these pieces so that somehow, when they are in the space, they speak the same language.” says Jerry Lorenzo, Founder of Fear of God.

“We wanted to create something custom to the Selfridges’ space that kept the DNA of The Fear of God headquarters. The language is based in pure materials and simple geometric forms, all in natural tones, a nod to the essentialism of the collection.” says Willo Perron, Partner at Perron-Roettinger.

“We are thrilled to open the world’s first permanent Fear of God store at Selfridges, Oxford Street. Jerry Lorenzo’s distinct vision for the brand continues to redefine the meaning of American luxury.” says Bosse Myhr, Director of Womenswear and Menswear at Selfridges.

Notes to Editors:

About Fear of God

Fear of God is an independent American luxury fashion label, founded in 2013 in Los Angeles by Jerry Lorenzo. Crafting timeless, wearable garments, the brand’s distinct interpretation of the American expression has become an emblem of contemporary culture. Converging American archetypes like the varsity athlete, the California skater, and Wall Street businessman; Fear of God pays homage to their unique heritage with a contemplated and sophisticated fusion through high-grade materials and fine craftsmanship. www.fearofgod.com

About The 7th Collection

For the Seventh Collection, Fear of God introduces suiting, knits, and accessories for the first time in the brand’s narrative. By re-envisioning formalwear through the lens of American sportswear, traditional tailoring is transformed, adapted, and updated in the form of transitional and trans-seasonal fits, to create an easy and sophisticated wardrobe for the modern man. One of the hero pieces is the California blazer, constructed with a voluminous fit featuring a dropped lapel crotch, balanced with a lightweight feel, redefining the classic sport coat.

PIZZA PILGRIMS’ NEW FUTURE-FACING, SUSTAINABILITY-FOCUSED PIZZERIA OPENS AT SELFRIDGES

The new ‘Pizzeria of the Future’ represents Pizza Pilgrim’s first major step towards what pizzerias should look like by 2030 and beyond  

The 108-cover restaurant aims to unpack every element of running a pizzeria, from how it’s built to how the menu is developed, with a view to making it more sustainable, inspired by Selfridges’ Project Earth initiative. The site brings a taste of authentic Napoli to the central-London luxury department store – even if some of the ingredients might be closer to home.  

Pizza Pilgrims at Selfridges London.

Guests enter through a 3 meter hydroponic basil tunnel, created in partnership with Harvest London, who supply basil to all Pizza Pilgrims pizzerias. As a key ingredient for Neapolitan pizzas, the hydroponic system uses less water and saves over 250,000 air miles for Pizza Pilgrims every year. Meanwhile, all the pizza dough will be made with only regenerative UK wheat in collaboration with Wild Farmed, a technology developed by Andy Cato of Groove Armada fame. By 2030 the Wild Farmed system will be taking as much carbon out of the atmosphere as a 100-year-old rainforest the size of Greater London. Further locally sourced ingredients will include Fior di Latte mozzarella made in the UK using local milk and a traditional Italian process and sustainable British charcuterie from Cobble Lane Cured. 

Pizza Pilgrims worked closely with Selfridges to create the retailer’s most sustainable restaurant fit to date. At the table, the upholstery has been replaced with fully vegan Pinatex (a leather alternative made from pineapples – pineapples on chairs not pizza!), whilst tabletops have been crafted from reclaimed plastic waste in a beautiful terrazzo style. The timber floors are reclaimed and the giant wall mural of the bay of Naples has been created from 2000 recycled glass water bottles. At the open-style craft beer bar, in partnership with London Brewery Gypsy Hill, drinks will be served from fully reusable kegs, with no single use packaging, whilst the newly formulated wine list features a selection of sustainable wines which are all stored in a cave in the Chiltern Hills, to reduce the need for refrigeration. 

Guests can expect new menu exclusive to Selfridges, with newcomers including Wild Mushrooms, Truffled Ricotta and Burrata, British Wagyu Beef with Mozzarella and Poponcini Peppers and a Smoked Salmon Everything Bagel Pizza featuring a Fior di Latte base and everything bagel seed crust, baked and topped with smoked salmon, mascarpone, red onion, capers, and dill.  

New to the side game is Stuffed Burrata, where guests can choose from three choices of pesto, truffled ricotta or roasted peppers alongside Gnocchi Fritti – deep fried potato Gnocchi with gorgonzola centre topped with red pepper tapenade.  

Meanwhile, desserts include a Pip & Nut Chocolate Almond and Cornish Sea Salt Pizza Ring (free of palm oil, and made with ethically sourced chocolate and almond spread, served with vanilla ice-cream). Also new to the menu is a Honeyed Strawberry Pistachio & Rosewater Sundae (vanilla ice-cream topped with strawberries marinated in sweet rosewater and crushed pistachio hearts). 

Co-founder Thom Elliot from Pizza Pilgrims says: “The Pizza Pilgrims Selfridges project is our first major step in the direction of creating more sustainable pizzerias. From working with forward thinking food producers who are developing amazing innovations like hydroponic basil, regenerative wheat and natural wines to looking at the way we build pizzerias with more sustainable materials and recycled furniture – we are excited to learn and develop the sustainability of what we do – because there is no other option.”  

Co-founder James Elliot from Pizza Pilgrims says: “We wanted to have a complete review of every part of our pizzerias and see what we could do better but without losing creativity and fun. It’s important to stress that this is only the beginning. We want to use our Selfridges pizzeria as a hub for innovation so that we can implement changes in all our other pizzerias!” 

Pizza Pilgrims at Selfridges is the first restaurant to launch as part of a new dining destination on the fourth floor of the Oxford Street store, as Selfridges continues to transform the experience of eating and drinking with curated dining destinations and a commitment to creativity, sustainability, and innovation. The new late-night destination will be open until 11.30pm and accessible via a dedicated express lift. 

Visit Pizza Pilgrims Selfridges from Thursday 9th December at:  
4th Floor, Selfridges 
400 Oxford St 
London, W1C 1JS 

TRIBUTES TO VIRGIL ABLOH

Virgil Abloh – the trailblazing designer, architect, DJ, creative collaborator and philanthropist who founded Off-White and was the first Black designer to lead Louis Vuitton as Artistic Director – passed away on Sunday. In celebration of Abloh and the immense impact he had and will continue to have, we asked Selfridges team members to share their memories of Abloh and the ways he influenced them, as well as collecting the tributes from some of our wider Selfridges family in the days since he passed. Here, we share those dedications, from industry leaders through to those who worked on the shop floor with Off-White, on how he made our world a brighter place, and the legacy he leaves.

“Virgil was an inspiration and a great part of what menswear fashion is at Selfridges. We opened the first Off-White shop-in-shop what feels like many years ago now. The impact was instant. Customers, staff and fashion industry professionals alike competed to buy the first Off-White collection pieces. Signature ‘pieces’ selling out immediately. But the success was not only commercial in nature. The impact that Virgil’s Off-White had on London fashion and music culture was only beginning to dawn on us later. It was the start of a new guard of designers who we were able to work with from that moment onwards. 

Virgil pushed on so many levels what a fashion designer can be – music, fashion, art, homeware. His creativity reaching far into so many aspects of menswear culture.

I first met Virgil when working at Comme des Garçons, when he came to the store together with Kanye West. And we had some great exchanges about buying, products and brands, and how everything is linked together. It’s easy to see in hindsight now how it all fits together – but at the time, which must have been around 2009/2010, it was not. Social media was in its infancy and fashion did not have the cross-cultural influence it has now. Not least because of Virgil and the visionary he was. He worked and connected many a creative world together.

When Virgil became the first artistic director of Louis Vuitton with an African-American background, it further cemented the influence he had on the entire fashion industry, which I think will be remembered as a real moment of change. 

Besides his work in fashion for Off-White and LV, and with all the collaborators from Evian to Chrome Hearts, Virgil was the most incredible DJ. I do not know how he found the time to do everything. That truly, for me, makes him a huge source of inspiration forever. 

Virgil will be greatly missed. A huge talent that we’ve lost. Rest in power.“

  • Bosse Myhr, Selfridges Director of Menswear & Womenswear

“I really can’t believe it. Even though I didn’t get the chance to know you or call you a ‘friend’, you’ve always been a mentor to me one way or another. Virgil taught me a very important lesson – that you can do it too, just as he did. He left us with his influence and legacy, to create and change the world, and even though he’s physically gone, his name and legacy will always live on, inspiring others and paving the way for the next generation. He showed me that taking decisions and knowing all the viable risks is something worth doing, and this is a perfect example of the kind of person and spirit he is, always taking risks and breaking and challenging the norm. 

Thank you for everything, Virgil.“

“I’m not made for a podium, but I’ll design a podium that ushers in systemic change.” – Virgil Abloh

  • Benedetta Atti, Selfridges Sales Associate for Off-White

Virgil Abloh’s immeasurable accomplishments across fashion, art and music inspired so many of us and will continue to influence how we see and experience culture. What’s clear from the tributes to his character, his work and his achievements is that we are only beginning to feel the impact he had, and his legacy will continue to empower people young and old for many more years to come.

 
“Life is so short you can’t waste even a day subscribing to what someone thinks you can do versus knowing what you can do.” – Virgil Abloh

THE VIRGIL ABLOH™ “POST-MODERN”
SCHOLARSHIP FUND

In 2020, Virgil Abloh established a fund to support the next generation of Black fashion talent.

Visit the link below if you wish to donate to the fund and support Virgil Abloh’s legacy.

Find out more

https://www.fashionscholarshipfund.org/virgil-abloh

SELFRIDGES OPENS NEW BAKERY DESTINATION WITH EXCLUSIVES FROM CRISS CROSS

7 December 2021 – Selfridges adds a new bakery destination to its London Foodhall with an offer of delicious fresh pastries and bread baked everyday in store, alongside specially selected items from London’s best bakeries. The new bakery is three times bigger than the previous offer and located next to Selfridges Pop Up Kitchen and the Little Moons’ Pic ’n’ Mix counter.

The curated bakery offer will include the very best from St John’s Bakery (The City), Sally Clarke (Notting Hill) and Karaway (Borough Market.) Selfridges will also have exclusive pastries from Insta-hit Criss Cross (Soho) and in January, the space will welcome colourful doughnuts from Urban Legend.

The new bakery will be the perfect spot to pick something up for breakfast with the space open from 8am Monday – Sunday. As well delicious freshly baked pastries, The Bakery will be stacked high with cinnamon sugar pretzels and cardamon buns. For those looking for a pick-me-up, customers will also be able to order freshly roasted coffee from neighbouring coffee destination, The Roasting Plant. For lunch, there will be wedges of golden focaccia, grilled cheese croissants and artisan sausage rolls.

CRISS CROSS

The Soho based Instagram sensation Criss Cross are brainchild of Roberto Guzzi (Novikov) and Boris Kofman (Mnky Hse.) Their elevated sweet and savoury croissants are as delicious as they are photogenic.

Available from Selfridges Bakery: Strawberry Dream, Black Yuzu Meringue, Pecan Vanilla, Peanut Nutter Banoffee, Chocolate Raspberry (vegan), Whisky Salmon, Beef Pastrami, Croque Monsieur.

ST JOHN 

Founded by Fergus Henderson and Trevor Gulliver, St John opened in Smithfield in 1994. Having supplied customers and restaurants across the city with their incomparable sourdough loaves, in 2010 they went onto launch the dedicated St

JOHN Bakery in Bermondsey. 

Available from Selfridges Bakery: St John’s Sourdough, Raisin Loaf, Soda Bread, Doughnuts.

SALLY CLARKE

Cordon Blue alum Sally Clarke launched her wholesale bakery in 1989 to meet the growing demand for their top-quality, hand-shaped artisan breads, Viennoiserie and patisserie, which continue to be served their restaurant and shops in West London today.

Available from Selfridges Bakery: Viennoiserie, All-Butter Brioche, Gruyere. Mushrooms & Spinach Quiche, Sausage Rolls, Bakewell Tart, Chocolate & Salted Caramel Tart.

HOUSE OF CINN

Co-founders David and Itse combined their passion for baking with doing good, to create a bakery brand on a mission to support and employ people most in need. Through their partnership with charity Street Cafe, every bun purchased helps in supporting a rough sleeper in getting back on their feet.

After starting up their bakery mid-lockdown in 2020 with their student savings, the young London based duo launched their delicious cinnamon buns in Selfridges stores in summer 2021, with a range of mouth-watering flavours on offer.

Available from Selfridges Bakery: Very Berry Cinnamon Bun, Classic Cinnamon Bun, Salted Caramel & Pecan Cinnamon Bun, Cookies & Cream Cinnamon Bun, Lotus Biscoff Cinnamon Bun.

KARAWAY
Family-run, award-winning bakery Karaway, have over 150 years of combined baking experience and with origins in Baltic and Russian baking they create a rye bread like not other. Their recipes have been handed down from generation to generation and we only use natural, high quality ingredients and traditional long fermentation methods. 

Available from Selfridges Bakery: Dark Rye with nuts & raisins, Grandmother’s Loaf (light rye with caraway seeds), Cinnamon, walnut & raisin brioche.

FENDI X SKIMS POP-UP LAUNCHES AT SELFRIDGES LONDON

At Selfridges, we’re at the forefront of creative collaboration, bringing together friends and family to discover fresh ideas in fashion, and the latest launch is FENDI x SKIMS. Co-designed by Fendi Artistic Director Kim Jones and SKIMS Founder Kim Kardashian West, the colourful collection fuses Fendi’s storied history as a luxury house with SKIMS’ innovative shapewear techniques – and a heavy dose of co-signed logos. 

Kim Jones has built a reputation for unexpected fashion collaborations, with an intuitive understanding of who and what is shaping the zeitgeist. Before the Fendace ‘Swap’ with Versace for SS22, he launched arguably fashion’s first high-fashion-streetwear collaboration with his Louis Vuitton x Supreme collection back in 2017, followed by a series of co-signed menswear collections for Dior, and now, FENDI x SKIMS.

The idea for the project began when Jones’ Fendi team fell silent in a meeting because they were all waiting for a SKIMS launch: “it was then that I thought: let’s do something together,” Jones says. Sketches from an archival Fendi collection designed by Karl Lagerfeld in 1979 acted as a starting point for their collection, inspiring the twisted tube tops, bold colours and sculpting sashes. The result is a co-designed collection spanning form-fitting leather dresses, sleek shapewear and swimwear, logo-stamped tights, bright bags and equally colourful Fendi First heels. And, as well as being the latest proof of Kim Jones’ knack for a clever collaboration, FENDI x SKIMS marks both the first time SKIMS has collaborated with another brand and its first complete ready-to-wear collection. “The innovation in fabrics and fit typical to SKIMS paired with the luxury and quality of Fendi may feel unexpected to some people, but the similarities between our creative vision and goals are so closely aligned,” says Kim Kardashian West. “It’s that tension that excites me.”

DISCOVER THE FENDI x SKIMS COLLECTION

Fusing Fendi’s aesthetic codes and Kardashian West’s innovation in shapewear, the collection incorporates SKIMS’ figure-hugging silhouettes, a new co-signed monogram and a mix of bright shades of orange and purple alongside SKIMS’ signature spectrum of inclusive skin-tone shades. The ready-to-wear styles include outsized khaki puffer jackets, right through to sculptural leather dresses; shapewear and underwear are recast in bold hues; hosiery stands out thanks to the new monogram, and there are new takes on the Fendi First mules that caused a stir in Kim Jones’ debut ready-to-wear collection for AW21.

The pop-up stores in Selfridges London on G and 2 have now ended.

SELFRIDGES WELCOMES A SOUTH LONDON MAKERS MARKET

A South London Makers Market is hosting a revolutionary pop-up Christmas market inside
Selfridges on Oxford Street. It launches on Wednesday 1st December and will run for five days
through to Sunday 5th December. It will be situated in the Accessories Hall, by the Duke Street
entrance.


The market will include 16 of London’s most exciting small brands covering jewellery, sleepwear,
skincare, candles, homeware and more. From intricate stained glass decorations to colourful
hand tufted rugs and hand crafted pyjama sets made using repurposed fabric the pop-up market
will include innovative sell-out brands with a focus on luxurious handmade products and
traditional crafts, perfect for Christmas gifting.


Excitingly, each brand will also be launching one brand new product for the pop-up, which are all
exclusive to Selfridges and will be sold online at selfridges.com.

A South London Makers Market – Laylo


The pop-up is part of Selfridges’ Good Nature project, and so all items for sale during the
market will have been handmade in the UK with the exception of one brand, Laylo.

A South London Makers Market – Bloh


A South London Makers Market was created by twin sisters Olivia and Daisy Tinker in
December 2019. After hosting two incredibly successful real life markets in Crystal Palace, they
pivoted online just one week after lockdown hit and hosted 26 online markets online. They have
since returned to real life markets including their first pop-up at Selfridges in June. They have
worked with 600+ small brands since launching.

A South London Makers Market – Kit.a Collective

Olivia Tinker, co-founder of A South London Makers Market said: “To be hosting a Christmas market pop-up inside Selfridges, which has been voted best department store in the world four times, feels like an important recognition of our mission to help more people shop small more often, and illustrates the shift in what consumers now perceive as luxury. More than ever, people want to shop unique, handmade, sustainable, beautiful and original items, and we feel proud to be working with 16 of London’s most exciting brands to bring them a Christmas market full of just that!”

A South London Makers Market – Harriet Says Hi

MONCLER PRESENTS HOUSE OF GENIUS CURATED BY DAVID FISCHER AT THE SELFRIDGES CORNER SHOP

Moncler is the latest brand to takeover the Corner Shop In Selfridges Oxford Street, where Moncler DNA meets the future, the House Of Genius pop-up space will recreate a surreal mountain lodge terrain, reimagining Moncler’s alpine heritage for tomorrow’s adventurer with a unique twist. A place of freedom where new ideas are born, the immersive Moncler House of Genius space combines the vibrant Genius yellow synonymous with Moncler House of Genius and mirrored surfaces that evoke the mountain environment in a futuristic setting, taking global wanderers in an exciting new direction.

The 4 weeks pop up will include a curation of key pieces from all Moncler Genius collections including 1 Moncler JW Anderson, 2 Moncler 1952 Man, 2 Moncler 1952 Woman, 3 Moncler Grenoble, 4 Moncler HYKE, 5 Moncler Craig Green, 6 Moncler 1017 ALYX 9SM, 7 Moncler FRGMT Hiroshi Fujiwara and 8 Moncler Palm Angels. House of Genius features a dedicated ready-to-wear capsule, accessories, gadgets, and collectibles. This incorporates 10 limited-edition detachable city patches, which tap into the global wanderlust at the heart of Moncler Genius, and can be used to customize puffer jackets and a vest, taking the personal touch to new heights. In a circular economy view, several models feature fabrics left over from warehouses paired with recycled nylon inner linings. Furthermore, the packaging is made from sustainable sources, such as paper derived from responsibly managed forests and other recycled materials.

“We are thrilled to be welcoming Moncler Genius into the Selfridges Corner Shop, and are excited to bring these exciting drops to our customers” Sebastian Manes, Executive Buying & Merchandising Director. 

With consultancy and curation from David Fischer, House of Genius features a host of collaborations with some of the world’s most exciting brands, who were invited to bring their own unique ideas to the project. With Cowichan-inspired hand-knitted sweaters from Canadian brand Kanata, to a Casio-powered G-Shock watch – with branding especially created for Moncler House of Genius and a choice of two straps – the essence of the brand has reached all corners of the globe. Visitors to the Moncler House of Genius will also find a 112-piece UNO deck from Mattel in bold black and yellow, an exclusive Moncler Genius chess set, a unique range of custom-graphic casualwear from cult label Advisory Board Crystals, and two waterproof bags from German outdoor and bike bag brand ORTLIEB, featuring a 60L duffle and a 24L rack pack.

Tokyo-based brand Fujifilm also presents its Moncler Genius square SQ20 instant camera, complete with a pack of two films and a USB charger. A cluster of accessories are also available including a car tag fragrance from Tokyo brand retaW, and two classic sport ball pens from heritage German penmaker Kaweco.

Two brand new collaborations will premiere at Moncler House of Genius. Moncler joins forces with performance footwear and apparel brand, HOKA®, to create a limited release of the Mafate Speed 2 running shoe. Designed to master mountains and meet the demands of modern city adventures, the Mafate Speed 2 reflects how each brand utilizes the latest in technology and innovation to craft cutting-edge high-quality pieces.

In addition, conceptual visionary Chen Peng has created a dramatic ‘Upcycling’ capsule that breathes creativity into a selection of classic Moncler jackets. With an environmentally conscious mindset, a series of jackets from previous collections have been enhanced with additional detailing to add a fresh spin. Creating innovative clothes that are as functional as they are conceptual, Chen Peng’s design ethos blends with a sustainable vision.

Moncler Genius recognizes that home is where the heart is. Moncler is proud to support #Togetherfortomorrow, a project of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana and Camera Moda Fashion Trust helping emerging designers to navigate their fashion careers. All House of Genius packaging includes a QR-coded tag, enabling users to discover more about the charity’s work and make a donation via heroe5.org if desired.