LF MAESTRO set to open a ‘signature store’
MAESTRO, an iconic menswear brand from LF (CEO Kyu Sik Oh), will be opening a signature store at Hyundai Department Store Mokdong Branch and sell a wide variety of lifestyle products including furniture and shoes in addition to clothing.
Launched in 1086 to offer bando suits, which were the first type of luxury menswear in Korea, MAESTRO became the first in Korea to introduce the forward pitch system, which shifted the center of gravity to the front part of the suit to improve comfort for the wearer in 2004, and upgraded it to the Asian forward pitch system to tailor the suits to the typical body shape of Asian men this fall. Through such efforts, it has firmly secured its place as a pioneering brand in the domestic menswear market.
In reflection of the growing number of men aged from 35 to 45 who buy their own clothes and who actually view shopping as an enjoyable activity, the signature store set to be opened by MAESTRO will be a lifestyle experience space, upgraded from the conventional concept of stores, which were merely viewed as a place that sells clothes.
In fact, in leading menswear brands based in Europe and North America have been either directly fabricating furniture, which is considered the quintessential luxury item for men, or selling items from specialized furniture brands in their stores for several years, and furniture makes up a significant portion of their displayed items and sales.
MAESTRO’s signature store at Hyundai Department Store Mokdong has been decorated under the concept of the “coveted library of men.” It will offer the entire clothing line from MAESTRO including the Takizawa Shigeru collection, a high-end suit line newly launched this fall season, as well as tables, chairs and other furniture items that are coveted by men. There is even an alteration shop, decorated in a classic style, situated within the store, so customers will be able to alter their clothes immediately upon purchase.
Starting with the collaboration with Stellar Works, a multinational furniture brand, this season MAESTRO plans to continue collaborating with diverse lifestyle brands preferred by men in the areas of figures, stationery, dishware, books and more.
Stellar Works, which MAESTRO is collaborating with this season, is a contemporary design furniture brand established in 2013. It receives inspirations from the traditions and craftsmanship of Japanese and French furniture makers, and presents products that show a harmonious blend of Eastern and Western elements, tradition and modernity, and handicraft and industry. Collections designed by ShuwaTei, Space Copenhagen and other designers from around the world including Denmark, Australia, Japan and Italian have been presented, and the furniture is produced in France, Japan and China using eco-friendly materials. Stellar Works furniture is seen at hotels in the U.S. and Europe and Starbucks and Rolex stores worldwide. This brand has also been selected for interior furniture at the flagship store of Sulwhasoo located in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul, Korea.
One-fifth of the signature store to be opened at Hyundai Department Store will be allocated for the display of the tables and chairs from Stellar Works, and the brand’s history of working with famous furniture designers and the products of their collaborations will be shown on a large multi-vision screen and a panel that is reminiscent of a gallery. The prices for Stellar Works furniture range from KRW 890,000~1,590,000 for tables and KRW 490,000~2,300,000 for chairs.
Team Manager Choi Min-su at MAESTRO said, “MAESTRO, which has been dedicated to developing a suit fit that is optimized for the [target] consumers for the past 30 years, has created a signature store taking into consideration the fit with consumer lifestyles.” He then explained, “In reflection of the growing importance of ‘space’ in branding, we will collaborate with outstanding brands in diverse lifestyle areas to decorate our signature store space with items that meet the preferences of MAESTRO’s customers.”
Meanwhile, MAESTRO plans on holding a launch event, where Takizawa Shigeru, a distinguished menswear pattern export recruited as the Chief Pattern Design Director in time for the 30th anniversary of the brand launch last year and famous shopping host Lee Min-woong will be in attendance, to celebrate the opening of the signature store at Hyundai Departure Store Mokdong Branch on September 14.