Nordstrom’s Expanding In-Store Boutiques

Nordstrom is expanding the SPACE line — a collection of in-store luxury boutiques hosted in a select handful of locations nationwide. That list will soon get a bit longer, and Nordstrom has announced four more stores will soon be host to a SPACE boutique.

SPACE first hit the market about a year ago during the fall of 2015 and is the brainchild of Nordstrom VP of Creative Projects Olivia Kim. SPACE embraces “next-level” fashion designs from both well-known and up-and-coming designers to give the spaces an appropriately cutting-edge vibe. Simone Rocha, Vetements, Comme des Garçons Collection, Koché, Undercover, Ellery, Colovos, Phelan and Molly Goddard are all featured designers.

The mini-shops are designed as standalone boutiques within the designer goods department. The items are a cross-category selection of apparel, shoes, handbags, accessories, home goods and fragrance. First launched in Nordstrom’s flagship locations nationwide, the program is now expanding to locations known for being high-volume shopping destinations. That will include an opening this week at The Mall at Green Hills in Nashville, Tennessee, followed by an opening at The Grove in Los Angeles on August 26.

Later this fall, Nordstrom’s first two Toronto locations in Eaton Centre and Yorkdale Centre will both open with SPACE stores ready to roll.

SPACE shops are designed with artistic elements distinguishing them from the rest of the shopping experience. The elements include pink mannequins, mixed materials and art objects — all placed in an area designed to be open and airy.

“We want to make a statement with our stores in these markets and identify them as destinations for fashion, style, art and culture. Our customers are really curious and educated about fashion, and part of our goal with SPACE is to create a platform to introduce our customers to this side of designer fashion — this place where the directional collections or up-and-comers have a place to live and grow,” Kim noted.