Sil-Mon Li

About 9 months ago, I wrote a blog item regarding Abercrombie and Fitch’s store opening.

After months of speculation, Abercrombie and Fitch will be opening their first store outside the US this year! The International Flag Ship Store will be located in London, UK and will open on 22nd March 2007. The store will live on Savile Row which runs parallel to Regent Street.

Confirmed sources include details on their own website and advertisement (started on the weekend of 10 March 2007) on London’s Red Buses.

The only question now is how much they will be charging for their items/goods. I wouldn’t be suprise if their clothes were to retail at £ = $. i.e. a $70 shirt in a US store will be £70 in the UK store. Though, it will probably more likely to be 150% increase on US prices. i.e. $70 shirt in a US store will be appro £50 or £60. The annoying thing is that people are prepared to buy their clothes at these stupid prices because Londoners are used to paying a high rate for premium products!

I probably won’t buy too many items from the UK A&F store as they now have an online ordering service which ships to many international locations. Therefore you’ll pay the US prices and only £20 - £40 for the shipping. Obviously you’re liable for import duties and taxes but all this taken into account it should be at least 20% cheaper than if you bought in the UK! But at least you can now try on the items before buying them online.
The other alternative is to ask someone very nicely to buy some A&F stuff when they head over to the States!

So there I was trying to look for the Ice Bar (Heddon Street) just off Regents Street and missed the turning and ended up on Saville Row and there it was… An Abercrombie & Fitch coming soon board outside the building. There were no dates on when it would be opening but looks like it’s soon. I had a quick scan on their website and on Google and it looks like they’re keeping this hush hush! So be the first to hear it from me! I’ll try to update you when it opens. Keep your eyes peeled!