Skims, the wildly popular clothing brand co-founded and launched by Kim Kardashian, has brought its swimwear collection to Europe for the first time ever.
The best-selling range of swimming costumes and bikinis is available to shop at the first-ever European Skims pop-up in London, as well as being stocked in Manchester.
Selfridges department stores in both the Trafford Centre and in the city centre will have an edit of the collection for customers to shop.
Down south, the Corner Shop at Selfridges London has become an immersive Skims experience, designed to replicate a Summer Los Angeles poolside oasis, down to the diving boards and palm trees.
Shoppers will even be able to grab custom Skims ice cream treats by Chin Chin Labs while they browse.
ADVERTISEMENT
It’s been designed in partnership with the brand’s long-time collaborator, Willo Perron of Perron-Roettinger.
The Skims swimwear edit available to shop at Selfridges Manchester Trafford and Selfridges Manchester Exchange Square will include the brand’s signature cuts in multiple coverage levels and colourways.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Skims swim collection, now available to shop in ManchesterThe Skims swim collection, now available to shop in Manchester. Credit: SuppliedThe Skims swim collection, now available to shop in Manchester. Credit: Supplied
The pop-up experience and arrival into Europe follows the opening of a Skims Summer Pop-Up in New York, where visitors waited in a queue for more than two hours every day to shop.
The brand has also revealed plans to expand into free-standing stores across the UK and Europe within the next three years.
Jens Grede, co-founder and CEO at Skims said: “I’m thrilled to open our first international pop-up experience at the iconic Selfridges Corner Shop. We expect demand and buzz to be high as this is the first time SKIMS Swim will be available in retail outside of the U.S.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The pop-up experience will set the tone for the future of Skims in London, as the cultural and fashion destination is a key market for our global expansion.”
The Skims pop-up space in Selfridges London. Credit: SuppliedThe Skims pop-up space in Selfridges London. Credit: Supplied
Robert Norton, Chief Commercial Officer at Skims, said: “As we look to establish SKIMS as a global brand, Selfridges London is the optimal starting point for the next phase of SKIMS journey with our existing customer base in the UK and unparalleled business at Selfridges to date.
“The pop-up experience and expansion of our permanent shop-in-shop space at Selfridges set the framework for our global retail strategy, and we will continue to leverage multi-brand partnerships this year as we plan to open 35 shop-in-shops in the U.S. and internationally.”
Bosse Myhr, Selfridges Director of Womenswear and Menswear, said: “We are extremely excited to welcome SKIMS Swim to the Selfridges Corner Shop, continuing to build on our long-standing relationship with the brand.
“We know our customers love SKIMS product and its distinct point of view. We are looking forward to Selfridges customers being the first to explore the SKIMS Swim collection in Europe, with an extraordinary shopping experience that will get everyone in the mood for summer.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Skims is available to shop in Manchester now at Selfridges store, while stocks last.
Featured image: Supplied
Shopping
Trafford Centre begins months-long refurb of its iconic The Orient foodhall
Emily Sergeant
A new era for The Orient is on the horizon, as the Trafford Centre has begun its months-long refresh of its iconic foodhall.
Forming part of its ongoing commitment to ‘enhancing the visitor experience’, the Trafford Centre is investing in a major refresh of seating and customer facilities within The Orient – creating a more vibrant and welcoming environment for guests to eat, meet and relax.
Works are now underway and will be delivered in phases over the coming months.
Improvements are being carried out in phases to minimise disruption to shoppers, while creating a more comfortable and contemporary dining environment at the same time.
The refreshed area will increase seating capacity by more than 60%, introducing a range of new seating styles in the process – including banquettes, family-friendly tables, accessible seating for guests with mobility requirements, and dedicated areas equipped with phone and laptop charging facilities.
The Trafford Centre begins months-long refurb of its iconic The Orient foodhall / Credit: The Manc Group
Inspired by The Orient’s longstanding maritime heritage, the design takes cues from a contemporary cruise liner, and the space will also feature upgraded furniture and enhanced lighting, alongside flexible areas designed to encourage visitors to spend more time in there.
There’ll also be modern furnishings and a ‘refreshed’ colour palette to create a brighter and welcoming environment.
“The Orient is one of the most popular destinations within Trafford Centre, welcoming millions of visitors each year,” a Trafford Centre spokesperson said on the refurb.
“This investment reflects our commitment to continually improving the experience for our guests, creating a more modern, comfortable and social environment where visitors can meet, dine and spend time together.
“The improvements will not only significantly increase seating capacity but also deliver a much more flexible and accessible space for all visitors to enjoy.”
Featured Image – The Manc Group
Shopping
Home Bargains has announced a special two-day closure of all UK stores
Emily Sergeant
Home Bargains has, once again, announced it’ll be closing all its UK stores on both Boxing Day and New Year’s Day this year.
And it’s to make sure staff get a ‘well deserved break’.
After what has been yet another busy year for the retail industry, many workers have been left feeling like they could do with a little extra time off, which is why Home Bargains is following on with what has become a now-annual tradition by shutting up shop on two bank holidays.
All of our stores will be closing for Boxing Day & New Years Day.
Announcing the move in a post on social media, the discount retailer confirmed: “All of our stores will be closing for Boxing Day and New Years Day. We would like to thank all our colleagues for how hard you have worked this past year, and want you to relax and enjoy the Christmas break with your loved ones.”
Of course, this isn’t the first time the retailer has kept its doors shut on bank holidays.
Many shoppers will recall it has made the same decision to give hardworking staff a break every year since 2019.
Explaining a little more about the decision taken to close all its stores, Home Bargains said: “As a family-run business, we know the importance of being together at Christmas with those we care about most, now more than ever.
Daisy Jackson -
22nd June 2023 
