Margaret Howell opens flagship store and office in Florence

Contemporary British designer Margaret Howell had opened its debut flagship store as well as an production office at the Piazza Carlo Goldoni, in Florence, Italy, ahead of the 87th edition of fashion trade fair Pitti Uomo.

The debut flagship store offers both the women's and men's wear collections as well as a selection of Howell's homeware and products, which include reissued and vintage furniture that can be found throughout the store.

The store's interior was designed by William Russell, from Pentagram Architects and is a reflection of the original design Russell created for Margaret Howell flagship store on Wigmore Street, London. The interior has been especially developed to unify the in-store experience across the label's retail units.

"For the past ten years I have worked with Will Russell on the design of our shop interiors. Whilst incorporating my ideas, Will always adds something that just wouldn't occur to me – a special spatial vision – resulting in a rewarding and successful working relationship," explains Margaret Howell.

Margaret Howell: "I'm inspired by the authenticity I can find in nature, people and places."

Above the standalone store, on the second level of the building, is the label's first production office outside the UK to open. "With more than half our products made in England, the Piazza Goldoni shop displays the best of what we do in a beautiful building in the centre of Florence," adds Howell.

"Having combined production office and retail shop in Florence will make the company closer to our Italian suppliers as well as showing our products to an international market."

Margaret Howell currently operates flagship stores in London, Paris, Florence and Tokyo, as well as 100 retail outlets throughout Japan and numerous concession stands across the world. The designer is set to open a second store in Paris, at 37 Rue Debelleyme later this year.