Gar&Mann:L: LAUREN BAGLIORE OPENS FIRST CONCEPT SHOP

A major luxury fashion designer, Lauren Bagliore, who divides her time between two homes and business centers in both New York City and Calgary, is proud to announce the official opening of the new LAUREN BAGLIORE Concept Shop on Thursday, November, 20 from 6 to 10 p.m. at 917 11th Street S.E., Inglewood, Calgary, AB – the same night the community kicks-off its annual Festival, Christmas In Inglewood. The designer formerly conducted appointment-only sales in a studio/atelier in the same neighbourhood. Thanks to the long-time support from the Inglewood BRZ since 2010, the New York-native designer and business owner has moved to offer customers an enhanced shopping experience in a stunning 850-square-foot store-front location to generate a luxury retail experience in her first brick-and-mortar retail shop within the community.

“We are truly excited about this next step for our business in terms of opening the first LAUREN BAGLIORE Concept Shop in Calgary. We have steadily grown over the last four plus years, and have wanted to not only continue to provide even better service to our existing clientele, but to become more accessible for new customers as well,” said Lauren Bagliore, fashion designer, and co-owner of the new LAUREN BAGLIORE Concept Shop. ”Our grand opening will be both a celebration and presentation of the A/W 2014 Collection to the public in a gala-like store event. We desire to provide our clients with a greater vision of our brand’s mission and evolution in becoming a lifestyle brand, while continuing to offer the same excellence and dedication in the personalized service that LAUREN BAGLIORE upholds and was built upon.”

Bagliore has also discovered that there is a need for a store-front location that serves clients in accommodating with later hours in Calgary. “The economy is strong in Calgary and I feel we really have a niche in doing what we do. My clients are amazing women—they truly inspire me. They understand the value in the story I create with fashion, and believe in my passion to help others by being an advocate to fight human-trafficking as well. My desire for each of them is to leave the shop feeling they had a special experience—that they are valued and appreciated and uniquely beautiful. If I can help them in that—through the means of fashion—I feel I have done my job well,” said Bagliore. Her new store will provide guests the ability to walk into a cozy “New York” West Village boutique-like atmosphere and discover a lifestyle brand that offers both comfort and style that the Calgary woman can resonate with.

“The decor is light, bright, and airy—very minimal, but with some belle époque French elegance juxtaposed with an industrial/edgy feel as well. We aim to create a unique shopping experience where people come into the shop and be inspired by the design and the atmosphere, and find all things from fashion, art, and design-- from fragrance to small leather goods that are our own, or unique lines I bring in from Italy or that I strongly believe in. This concept shop will be the start of what I see as becoming a full-on Lauren Bagliore "lifestyle" store, but concept shop seems like a better fit for us right now as that is what it will indeed be,” said Bagliore.

The store offers a combination of ready-to-wear pieces from the latest A/W 2014 collection as well as a series of Artisan pieces that are limited-edition. Bagliore describes the collection in three words as: Dark. Mysterious. Luxe.

“I always think of the Lauren Bagliore woman when I design as I mentioned earlier, as she indeed inspires me. She is intelligent, stylish, cultured, a world-traveler for business and pleasure, and also has a heart to help others though her generosity and her unique spheres of influence. In her own way, she is a world-changer...and she most definitely needs amazing clothes that are made with excellent craftsmanship, are completely stylish and comfortable, and offer her the versatility she needs to reflect her unique lifestyle.”

When asked why Inglewood? Bagliore said, “We’ve been here for the last four years and have built our name and invested much into the community. Inglewood has both a historic and an artsy feel, with many specialty shops and restaurants in the surrounding area, and wonderful small business owners that really make it such a unique and vibrant community. After carefully considering other locations, we felt it was the best fit for us to remain in Inglewood and are excited to bring a unique high-end fashion element to the neighbourhood as well.”

The Inglewood BRZ is also thrilled about Bagliore’s opening, “Having a New York City high-end designer, who trained with Vivienne Westwood among others, open her boutique in Inglewood is an indication of the diversity and originality of Inglewood’s businesses,“ said Rebecca O’Brien, executive director, Inglewood BRZ. “No machine-made labels at LB; all clothes are designed and made by this talented designer. The Christmas in Inglewood Kick- off evening will be the perfect opportunity to drop in and meet Lauren and view her remarkable collection.”

“I desire to use my resources and talents to practically help others — that is what distinguishes what I do.”

-Lauren Bagliore

A cause close to Bagliore’s heart is to help fight human-trafficking globally. The opening will also be used as a platform to educate guests about the issue where 15 per cent of every piece purchased this evening will go directly to her Canadian-based international charity www.ratanak.org that she has partnered with for more than five years.