Published
December 9, 2024
Traditional British pubs and cafés are having something of a moment in high-end fashion. First there was Burberry, then JW Anderson and now Kate Spade is getting in on the act.
There are plenty of pop-ups in key British cities ahead of Christmas but Kate Spade’s latest may be one of the most interesting of them.
On Friday and Saturday, the premium American brand took over the Exmouth Arms in London’s Exmouth Market to publicise its festive-season-ready offer.
The pub was renamed ‘The Kate Spade Arms’ for the experiential activation that aimed to deliver an “unexpected and festive design” to sum up the gift-giving season.
There were bespoke Kate Spade pub signs outside with the interior celebrating all-things-pub. That included a curated Kate Spade menu (think branded crisps), speciality drinks, live music courtesy of an all-female brass brand, branded pub games, a pub quiz and workshops.
Those workshops included scrunchie-making with Good Squish using deadstock materials, a ‘carb and a cocktail’ masterclass with Influencer Maddi, candle-making with OHROS Candles, and crumble-making workshop with dessert specialist Humble Crumble.
Matteo De Bortoli Albricci, SVP, general manager, EMEAI at Kate Spade owner Tapestry, said: “Kate Spade New York is known for its distinct point of view, anchored by how we craft moments of celebration big and small. As we introduce ‘The Kate Spade Arms’ at an iconic London pub, we celebrate the UK’s traditions and culture of community gathering and bring our brand to life in an unexpected and juxtaposed way this Holiday season.
“We are constantly exploring new ways to engage with younger customers, and we want to authentically meet our community where they are in a way that is uniquely Kate Spade. As an emotive brand, we value the importance of building deeper connections with our customers through interactive experiences.”
The pop-up come after Burberry’s international Streets initiative a year ago included a takeover of Norman’s, the North London café, with a travelling Norman’s food truck making appearances in key London Fashion Week-linked locations and also popped up in Seoul, Shanghai and New York.
And there was also JW Anderson hosting a party at The Devonshire for its SS25 four-piece collaboration with Guinness. The party was late last month and the collection has just dropped after being previewed on the runway in Milan.
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Like the Beatles before them, a slew of British brands are taking the US by storm with their whimsical dresses and cosy knitwear.The Guardian’s journalism is