Non essential shops have been allowed to re-open amid an ease in lockdown restrictions in the UK since Monday June 15. Shoppers ventured to the country’s capital in droves with many on the hunt for post pandemic bargains.
A collection of clothing retailers attempted to draw in customers in London with the allure of major discounts and many shoppers looked for deals on cosmetics and sneakers. Safety precautions were prevalent with many shops providing free masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer and heavy restrictions on trying on clothes and testing cosmetic samples.
Despite an abundance of cash-strapped consumers looking for deals many of the city’s luxury retailers, including Chanel and Hermès, amassed long lines outside their stores. Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Tiffany & Co. also welcomed customers to their central London locations.
However, one group of consumers were notably absent. International tourists, considered the lifeblood of London luxury shopping, were missing.
The state of the luxury retail industry post coronavirus does look somewhat gloomy. According to the Coronavirus Update to The State of Fashion 2020 report by The Business of Fashion and McKinsey & Company, the fashion sector as a whole is expected to contract by 27 percent to 30 percent this year.
However, it appears the London luxury fashion scene remains hopeful for the future. Luxury Knightsbridge department store Harrods will host a pop-up dedicated to the Dior fall 2020 collection later this summer. The designer pop-up shop is set to run from August 1 to 30 and will be modelled after Maria Grazia Chiuri’s runway set for the fashion house.
Photos courtesy of:
Oli Scarff and Getty Images
- Olivia Elliot posted 4 years ago
- last edited 4 years ago
