An influx of luxury stores is set to open in Auckland

Westfield Newmarket is proving a magnet for luxury fashion brands, with Italian jacket maker Moncler, Spanish accessories house Balenciaga, and esteemed French fashion empire Saint Laurent, among the spate of designer stores set to open pre-Christmas.

It seems luxury retailers are defying the pandemic-hit economy with a host of international store openings, many of which are new entrants to the New Zealand market.

The latest additions to Scentre Group's flagship mall, Westfield Newmarket, will cement Newmarket’s position as New Zealand’s premier fashion, beauty and lifestyle destination. Even in the year of mandatory store closures, the wider Newmarket area observed a 15 percent uplift on 2019, with over $613 million in trade. The $79m refurbished shopping centre opened its doors in August 2019, comprising more than 150 retailers and a rooftop dining precinct.

Finally, Saint Laurent will open its first New Zealand store.

What we know so far

Occupying the ground-level will be, Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Moncler, Burberry, Jimmy Choo and Michael Kors. New Zealand-owned family business Partridge Jewellers, selling globally branded items, will also open to complete the line-up.

Jimmy Choo will join a slew of luxury retailers pre-Christmas.

Paul Gardner, Scentre's regional manager, confirmed these stores will all be open before Christmas, but it will be a staggered approach. They’ll open in stages gradually in the lead up to the festive season. 

Market jitters? Not here! The emergence of new luxury retailers is a positive sign for the retail market, proving that international brands see value and want to invest in New Zealand. After a tumultuous year for retail, all signs are looking up as consumer confidence continues to lift.

It doesn’t stop there though – Salvatore Ferragamo, Emporio Armani, Canada Goose, Burberry, Tory Burch and beauty giant, Sephora, are also among the premium retailers rumoured to open at Westfield Newmarket. Stay tuned!

Meanwhile, over at Sylvia Park, owned by Kiwi Property, New Zealand’s largest MECCA store will open this Friday. The two-level, 491 square metre destination will provide customers with an even bigger shopping experience, featuring all the cult favourites like Drunk Elephant, NARS, Laura Mercier and Urban Decay.

For the first time, the Sylvia Park store will feature a dedicated brow zone, providing tinting, sculpting and brow lamination. The full-service MECCA will also offer skin treatments, fragrance consultations and makeup applications. To celebrate the opening, this weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) all services will be complimentary, including express makeup applications, facials, brow styling, dry hairstyling and Beauty Lab classes.