Lee Cooper putting up PH shop

British denim brand Lee Cooper is setting up its flagship store in the country this year, as it moves to showcase and make available its full line up of apparel, shoes and accessories to the Philippine market.

Red Diamond Global Trends Inc., the licensed distributor of Lee Cooper London, is hoping to put up its flagship store at one of the Ayala malls, along with another stand-alone store, said company brand manager Bernie P. Reyes III.

In an interview on Friday, Reyes noted the planned shops would be the first stand-alone stores that will be put up by the company two years after it brought to the country the Lee Cooper London brand. The target was to set up the flagship store in Greenbelt with a space of about 800 to 1,000 sqm at a cost of at least P10 million, Reyes added.

At present, the apparel line of Lee Cooper can be found in several department stores, including SM, Robinsons and Gaisano. The decision to put up a standalone shop came from both sides, according to Reyes, meaning from Lee Cooper London and  its licensed distributor in the Philippines, Red Diamond Global, since the brand has established such stores in many other countries across the region such as China, Japan, Singapore and Indonesia.

“There is a demand for us to showcase the whole brand, so we need that stand-alone shop. At the department store, you can only sell in the men’s section or ladies section, but if you do have your own store, you can sell the full line, including accessories, shoes and bag,” Reyes added.

Founded by Morris Cooper in 1908, in Stratford, East London, Lee Cooper was said to be the first jeans company in Europe. It ventured from “workwear” and “military wear” to “must wear” as the brand continued to develop an international following, continually innovating fashion product design from its headquarters in the UK. Amy R. Remo