Scotch & Soda to debut in UK and US

Dutch fashion label Scotch & Soda is expanding its retail network to include the UK and the US. The fashion company will open eight new stores in the US before year's end. Locations include New York, Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco

and Las Vegas. With two franchise stores in New York and Miami, these will be the label's first directly-owned overseas stores.

Scotch & Soda has acquired two locations in London, on opposites sides of Westbourne Grove in Notting Hill. One of the stores will be dedicated to the brand's menswear collection, while the other will house Maison Scotch for women. The stores are slated to open in the fall.

According to real estate agent Cushman & Wakefield, who acquired the locations for the brand, these stores are only the beginning of Scotch & Soda's UK expansion. "We're very excited to be working together with the retailer at expanding its presence in the UK, with London as its focus for further expansion," a spokesman for the agent told Drapers.

Since its takeover last July by US apparel manufacturer Kellwood Co., which is owned by Sun Capital Partners, Scotch & Soda has been actively expanding its business. The new owner originally planned to exploit the label under Kellwood Co.'s header, but later decided to establish Scotch & Soda as a stand alone brand. As part of his expansion plans, Kellwood first established a web shop for consumers in England, Ireland and Switzerland. The brand has been active online in the US and Europe since 2009.

In November, the company revealed plans to expand aggressively within its focus market Germany. Before year's end, the firm expects to triple its number of stores in that country from three to ten. Locations will include Berlin, Köln, Hamburg, Münster and Mannheim. Scotch & Soda now has more than 30 directly owned stores worldwide, of which a number are franchised. The brand is also available in about 7000 stores.