Two fashion retailers sign up at Bluewater

Women’s clothing brand Mint Velvet and US fashion firm Michael Kors are set to open new stores at the Bluewater retail and leisure complex in Greenhithe, Kent.

The site’s operator, Land Securities, has revealed that Mint Velvet will launch a 1,900 sq ft standalone store at Bluewater - its first in a non-high street location in the UK - while Michael Kors is establishing a 2,800 sq ft boutique shop on the complex’s lower Guildhall.

Land Securities’ portfolio director, Russell Loveland, said: “Mint Velvet is a very strong addition to Bluewater’s premium line-up, and it is reflective of the centre’s status in the industry that it will be the location of the brand’s first non-High Street store in the country.”

The two new brands form part of a wider enhancement programme at Bluewater that will see a number of firms relocating to new units.

Womenswear chain LK Bennett is moving into the lower Guildhall, having signed up for a 1,000 sq ft boutique next to Mint Velvet. Similarly, fashion retailer Jigsaw is relocating to a 1,000 sq ft unit near the current L’Occitane store.

Russell continued: “Michael Kors is equally significant and the two, together with the new stores for LK Bennett and Jigsaw, reaffirm Bluewater’s position as the first choice location in the South East for premium brands.”

Elsewhere, work is underway on a new 40,000 sq ft store for clothing retailer H&M.

Mint Velvet’s co-founder and chief executive, Liz Houghton, commented: “Opening a store at Bluewater is a key moment for the Mint Velvet brand, not least because it marks a development of our expansion strategy in the UK.

“Bluewater shares all of the same attributes as our traditional locations, being a high quality destination with significant appeal to our affluent customer base, but also brings the added benefit of serving a much larger catchment area.”

Mint Velvet and Michael Kors are due to open at Bluewater this summer.