Versace boutique opens in Solaire

THE FIRST Versace boutique in the Philippines opened earlier this month in Solaire in Parañaque.

The store’s maiden collections are the brand’s 2019 Prefall and Fall collections, which, according to Vogue’s Luke Leitch, is the first men’s collection since the house was acquired by Michael Kors Holdings Ltd. (since renamed to Capri Holdings Limited), sharing an umbrella with Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo. Donatella Versace, sister of founder Gianni (who was assassinated in 1997) continues to sit as head of creative design.

The collection pays a homage to the brand’s heyday in the late 1980s and ’90s, containing references to the Italian Baroque patterns that made it look so bold, combining this richness with the gritty and sexy bondage scene, seen in patterns of belts, harnesses, and restraints printed on t-shirts and jackets.

Versace was brought in by Noble House Distribution Enterprise, under its Distinqt multi-brand concept store. According to Noble House’s website “Distinqt houses internationally acclaimed labels such as Tibi, N21, Versus Versace, MM6 by Maison Margiela, and Jil Sander Navy.” Aside from Distinqt, Noble House carries Aigle, Luminox, Paul & Shark Yachting, and Piquadro. It describes itself as “a young and growing company whose vision and mission is to introduce the Philippine market to unique, high-quality brands and to be the leading and trusted exclusive distributor and retailer of superior quality products.” — JLG