Love Laura opens first ever standalone store at Northern Ireland’s The Boulevard
Love Laura has opened its first-ever standalone store at The Boulevard in Banbridge, Northern Ireland.
The Irish womenswear label has opened in a 1,800 sq ft unit, offering the brand’s full collection which includes tailored blazers, coats, denim, knitwear, dresses, jumpsuits, nightwear, everyday basics, as well as footwear and accessories.
The brand’s founder Laura Kearney began her retail journey in Banbridge in 2014, taking over a small boutique in the town and launching The Walk in Wardrobe. What started as a 500 sq ft shop has since grown into a 14,000 sq ft warehouse and a 3,000 sq ft flagship store, which offers products from the Love Laura line.
The arrival of Love Laura at The Boulevard continues a run of landmark openings at the scheme, which in recent weeks has welcomed Crocs, Weird Fish, and Hollywood Bowl, with Hollister also due to open its first outlet store on the island of Ireland later this month.
The Boulevard welcomed a number of brand firsts, with Kate Spade NY, IKEA, French Connection, Adidas, Levi’s, Vila, BPerfect, and TFG London among the retailers that chose it for their first or only location.
Laura Kearney, founder of The Walk in Wardrobe and Love Laura, said: “Opening the very first Love Laura store is something I’ve dreamt about since the day we launched the brand. Love Laura was built around real women and what they tell us they want from their wardrobes, so to finally welcome them into a space that is entirely ours is incredibly special.
“Banbridge is where my story started more than a decade ago, so it means the world to open our first Love Laura store here. The Boulevard’s strong footfall and dedicated customers from across the island, coupled with its exceptional calibre of brands made it the obvious choice for us. We have built a brilliant team of 12 for the new store, and we cannot wait to meet both our loyal customers and plenty of new faces.”
Chris Nelmes, retail director at The Boulevard, added: “We are thrilled to welcome Love Laura to The Boulevard. To be chosen as the home of the brand’s first ever standalone store is a real achievement, and it is all the more special that it comes from a Banbridge business with a female founder who has built something truly remarkable from her own hometown.
“The Boulevard has become a proven launchpad for first and only stores, and Love Laura shows that ambitious homegrown brands see that same opportunity as the international names already here. It brings a distinctive local label to our fashion offer as we head into our busiest season, giving shoppers another great reason to visit. We wish Laura and the team every success.”