Swedish footwear and lifestyle brand Axel Arigato is poised to expand its footprint in the UK with the launch of a flagship store in Covent Garden, London, slated for 2024. This strategic move accentuates Covent Garden’s role as a prime destination for discerning international fashion retailers.
Occupying a spacious 2,500 sq ft in the bustling Seven Dials district, the store will feature Axel Arigato’s ever-evolving collections of footwear, alongside a comprehensive range of womenswear, menswear, and accessories. The Earlham Street outlet, designed in Axel Arigato’s signature European gallery-style, will focus on highlighting the products and collaborations. This addition to Covent Garden marks the brand’s second location within the Shaftesbury Capital portfolio, joining its inaugural store on Broadwick Street, Soho. The expansion underscores the ongoing appeal of Shaftesbury Capital’s offerings and the West End’s magnetism for premier retail concepts.
Axel Arigato’s entry into Covent Garden places it among other esteemed lifestyle and footwear brands. This includes names like HOKA, with its recent European debut store, GANNI, and Arc’teryx, gearing up to open a new, larger flagship store at 42 King Street.
Regarding the new store, Michelle McGrath, Executive Director of Shaftesbury Capital, remarked, “Curating a destination that offers a comprehensive line-up of the best-in-class experiences, from both British and international brands, forms a key part of our retail strategy for Covent Garden and its Seven Dials neighbourhood. We are therefore delighted to have welcomed a young and dynamic concept like Axel Arigato. A forerunner in innovative footwear, leading with an emphasis on quality, craftsmanship and longevity.”
The presence of Axel Arigato in Covent Garden follows a trend of new brands joining the Seven Dials enclave. The area has recently welcomed Odd Muse and Missoma on Monmouth Street, marking their first permanent brick-and-mortar and flagship stores. Furthermore, British shoemaker Loake and the UK debut of French men’s skincare brand Horace have opened on Neal Street.