Capital investment
H&M's Dublin flagship store will open next Thursday in a magnificent Italian Gothic style 19th century building on College Green that once housed the Hibernian Bank (pictured above). It will be one of only nine H&M global flagship stores and the Swedish company's biggest shop in Ireland.
Architectural details in the central banking area have been restored including the magnificent vaulted stuccoed ceilings, the marble pillars, the original clock and the polished oak floors.
Ladieswear will be in this area of the ground floor. Menswear will be in the vaults in the basement area and the original safe doors into the vaults will be a feature.
Upstairs there will be a shoe lounge. The second floor will have a large sportswear area and lingerie , under the ornate chandeliers of the old boardroom.
Parts of this building, such as the central staircase, have never been seen by the public before. There will be special events and DJs in the store this weekend to mark the opening.
City gent
Conor Rhatigan’s travels to New York and London have informed the looks and the content of Castle & Drury, his recently-opened stylish new shop on Castle Market in Dublin 2.
The 26-year-old has sourced quirky, lesser-known menswear brands such places as Los Angeles and Japan with some equally carefully chosen accessories such as Push watches, sunglasses, gloves, shoes and leather belts for fashion- savvy males. Look out for tweed hoodies from LA, some lean and linear black t-shirts and good looking brogues that are much lighter than they look.
Summit talks
Raglan, Amy Hamilton’s new store at the junction of Sth William Street and Fade Street with its cool urban streetwear and accessories, was the venue for the only fashion event during the recent Web Summit.
Its breezy interior, great coffee and outdoor seating, not to speak of its well-chosen clobber, have already made it a firm favourite with city hipsters. The whole place was furnished with salvaged objects. The changing rooms, for example, are divided with a series of old doors, an imaginative touch.
Sunny side Sparkle has just opened at 22 Drury Street, Nicky Campbell’s new shop is stocking quality leather clothing, Italian handbags, merino lambskin jackets along with selected knitwear and beachwear.
The former owner of the Leather Studio in Westbury Mall, Campbell closed the shop after an accident and now designs swimwear made with UV50 sunsafe fabrics from his home in Co Clare.
