On August 30th, Sanyo Shokai opened its first street-level store in Kyoto for its select shop "LOVELESS" (368-1 Naramonocho, Nishiiru, Gokocho, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City). With a sales floor area of approximately 450 square meters, it is the largest in western Japan.
The store is divided into three floors: women's on the first floor, men's on the second floor, and a VIP room on the third floor. Both floors are approximately 198.3 square meters. The store has a narrow frontage and a long, slender design, typical of Kyoto. The entrance features an atrium with an impressive chandelier. The interior design, inspired by old castles and campsites, echoes the Daikanyama store's interior design. Encouraging customers to take their time and enjoy their clothing selection, the store is furnished with sofas and the fitting rooms are significantly larger than average. A bar counter is also installed next to the cash register on the first floor, offering complimentary drinks to customers with purchases. Some of the interior features real plants, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
In addition to original brands such as "Loveless" and "GUILD PRIME," the store offers a wide selection of domestic and international brands, including "MCM," "CARVEN," "Alexander McQueen," "BALMAIN," "SEA NEW YORK," "ato," and "ARMED." In addition to apparel, the store also offers a wide variety of accessories and fashion items across a wide range of price points.
Regarding these efforts, Tsuru Hiroyuki (crane under a rain crown), creative director of the company's select shop division, explained, "We created the store with the primary goal of providing a relaxed and enjoyable shopping experience. We also wanted to add new value by incorporating trendy brands selected by professional eyes while responding to the requests of existing fans." At the same time, they are also refining their hospitality, an essential element in offering better products to customers, and are making every effort to increase the number of customers and make them want to return.
In addition, they have recently seen a lot of tourists from the United States, China, and Europe, so they offer duty-free shopping, but in the future they would like to further strengthen their measures to attract inbound tourists.
To commemorate the opening, various items exclusive to the Kyoto store will be on sale. For men, there are four items: the "LOVELESS Kyoto Limited Edition T-shirt" (white and gray, 6,400 yen each), the "LOVELESS Kyoto Duck Camouflage Down" (58,000 yen), and the "EVERLAST x LOVELESS Kyoto Limited Edition Men's Sweat Riders" (19,800 yen). The women's collection includes four items: "LOVELESS Kyoto Limited Edition Sweatshirt" (9,800 yen), "LOVELESS Kyoto Limited Edition Camouflage Tote" (27,000 yen), "LOVELESS Kyoto Duck Camouflage Down" (69,000 yen), and "EVERLAST x LOVELESS Kyoto Limited Edition Women's Sweat Riders" (19,800 yen).
The Kyoto Duck Down, which was incorporated into the lineup with an awareness of "Kyoto-ness," is made using feathers from edible ducks that would otherwise be discarded. It is said to be of high quality and has excellent heat retention.
The select shop business is positioned as a quasi-core business for Sanyo Shokai. As a next step, the company is planning to open a store in Sendai, its first foray into the Tohoku region.
