Earlier this month, Arc’teryx opened its first European brand store in the heart of London. I was fortunate enough to visit the store yesterday and several friends asked me to take photos.
I’ve visited the brand stores in Seattle as well as Washington, DC and this is the largest of the three, with two floors.
Shoppers are greeted with a daily update of weather conditions at several mountain destinations.
Upstairs is Women’s Wear.
In addition to multiple mannequin displays of the clothing and gear, Arc’teryx wants its customers to participate and there are several ways to do that.
I am most impressed by Arc’teryx’s effort to incorporate the brand story into the store. First and foremost is pride in their relationship with W.L. Gore & Co.
This includes interactive displays on the materials they use.
Arc’teryx takes pride in their color offerings and there are some hands on displays to help you see what they are all about.
The store is well staffed and they are both friendly and knowledgeable.
You walk down a large, open staircase to reach the lower level. This massive, floor-to-ceiling display is at the foot of the stairs and showcases some amazing artifacts.
Having visited the factory in Vancouver several years ago I can tell you that in the past, several of these custom jigs and molds were trade secrets, closely held by the company. They give you a real behind-the-scenes look at the ingenuity of their designers.
The basement floor is well stocked with Men’s wear and broken up into different types of clothing.
There is even a Veilance section as well as footwear (not pictured).
All-in-all, the London Arc’teryx store is a great experience and I highly recommend you visit, if you’re in town.
