The onslaught of overseas fashion labels is to take a new twist early in the new year when the Spanish high street brand Mango is to open its first city centre store in Dublin's Henry Street.
The worldwide women’s fashion chain sells its clothes and accessories through five franchisees in Dublin and Limerick as well as in its store at The Pavilions in Swords.
The decision by the Barcelona-based company to lease one of the best retail outlets on Henry Street comes as the world's biggest clothing group, Spain's Inditex, prepares for the December 12th opening of its huge new Massimo Dutti store in the former HMV building on Grafton Street.
Meanwhile the Swedish-based H&M Group has put down another marker by announcing that not only is it to launch a new H&M store in the former National Irish Bank on Dublin's College Green, but it is also gearing up to open its first Irish outlet for the upmarket COS fashion brand in the premises occupied by Tower Records on Wicklow Street.
Mango has agreed a rent of around €700,000 for the Irish Life-owned building at 45/47 Henry Street which is only three doors from the Ilac centre and has one of the best layouts on the street. The retailing areas on the ground and first floor come to 1,007sq m (10,840sq ft), leaving 836sq m (9,000sq ft) free for use as storage, offices and staff facilities.
A Wear traded out of the building until a year ago when it relocated to another Irish Life building at 29 Mary Street. The Henry Street premises is occupied on a short lease by discounter Dealz which is expected to move out around February to allow Mango refit the shop.
Hugh Markey of letting agent Lisney said it was "premature" to announce a new letting of what was one of the finest retail outlets on Henry Street.
Mango has been attracting a great deal of attention in the fashion world for giving itself a Zara-style makeover. Bloomberg reports that the fast fashion chain has adopted Zara's well documented method for success – short production cycles, trend driven styles and affordable prices.
Mango is famous for its fresh, youthful take on modern urban style and its judicious mix of practical and party clothes. The chain is noted for whipping up cutting-edge looks that now go from design to studios to store shelves in a little as four weeks. Beginning in Barcelona in 1984, Mango now has over 1,400 outlets in over 100 countries.
