In addition to writing this press release to announce the renovations at Takashimaya, I also renamed the floors and wrote the copy for the launch of the online store at www.takashimaya-ny.com.
Project Text
TAKASHIMAYA TRANSFORMS
Fifth Avenue Retailer Revamps Key Venues
Change is afoot at Takashimaya, the Fifth Avenue retail mecca that reflects a singular commingling of Eastern and Western aesthetics. Significant renovations, primarily to the 1st and 6th floors, will transform the shopping experience, enhancing the global discoveries on each floor.
After nearly 14 years in business on Fifth Avenue, Takashimaya felt the time was right to respond to market shifts it has observed. The newly conceived floors will better serve the growing numbers of wealthy baby boomers, young parents and vital grandparents, giving them more elevated selections with a focus on unique, artisan-made pieces. “This transformation will allow our guests to truly experience all the wonders of Takashimaya in greater comfort, and to discover new aspects of the store as they move through with greater ease,” says Mr. Kenji Yoshikawa, president of Takashimaya New York.
Takashimaya’s 6th floor, with its gorgeous pussy willow gates by Gabriella Kiss, is currently dedicated to cosmetics. It has now been dubbed GROWING THINGS and will house the renowned Floral Shop and a new Tea Garden, as well as a greatly expanded boutique for newborns and toddlers. In the Tea Garden, specially blended herbal teas with healing properties will be paired with healthy sweets incorporating Japanese ingredients and served at small tables set among the lovely floral arrangements. The 6th floor configuration will provide a more cloistered environment for the delicate flora, more space to be used for classes in flower arranging, and more opportunity for guests to linger longer. A nearby women’s lounge with comfortable seating and wireless access is the ultimate luxury for women on the go who need a peaceful oasis in the city.
The children’s boutique evokes an enchanted world built around a merry-go-round, a modernist playhouse and an epic tree-root chandelier. It represents a huge increase in both square footage and depth of merchandise. Exquisite items culled from around the world range from $90 layette sets to a $7,000 antique Florentine christening dress. The space vacated by the current children’s boutique on the 5th floor will be given over to a greater array of decorative home accessories.
On the 4th floor, women’s contemporary clothing moves in with high-end designer collections for an eclectic, well-edited assortment that will appeal to women with a strong sense of personal style.
The 1st floor, now referred to as BECOMING, will house a new beauty area and women’s accessories, including jewelry, scarves, gloves, hats, belts and a dazzling array of handbags, featuring totes for urban sophisticates, exotic skins and Takashimaya’s private label designs. The beauty area will now use special lacquered boxes to create unique and portable presentations for individualized cosmetics selections. A subtle color palette, shoji-like shades and sculptural lighting by Eriko Horiki add to the sophisticated Asian aesthetic. More beauty specialists will be on hand to assist clients and there will be a private room for specialized treatments. Key beauty resources include Valmont, Babor, Kanebo and Amanda Lacey for skincare; and Shu Uemura, Michael Marcus and Chantecaille for color lines.
David Mann of MR Architecture, the original designer of Takashimaya’s pristine interiors, is also in charge of the renovations. Named one of House & Garden's tastemakers in 2005, he has a high modernist flair for color and texture that he skillfully modulates to reflect Takashimaya’s Japanese heritage. Construction will commence in April, 2007, and will be completed by June.
