DOWN-UNDER DESIGN: Australian ready-to-wear and swim brand Zimmermann will open a 3,800-square-foot flagship at 55 Mercer Street in New York, replacing its current location at 87 Mercer Street. The new store, which is projected to do $1,200 in sales per square foot in the location, will be three times as large as the original. The opening will coincide with Zimmermann’s first rtw show during New York Fashion Week. Zimmermann in 2011 opened its first U.S. store on Robertson Boulevard in Los Angeles. The Mercer Street unit bowed the following year. The company plans to open more locations in the U.S., including additional units in Manhattan.
As the legend goes, Nicky Zimmermann studied design at East Sydney by day and designed dresses in her parents’ garage at night, which she sold at the Paddington markets in Sydney on weekends. Her sister Simone joined the business in 1991. The swimwear features floral and paisley patterns, optic prints, contrasting ruffles and hardware. Prices range from $60 for a bikini bottom to $1,250 for the Independent lace splice dress. “The existing store has exceeded our expectations and we were keen to explore a larger space where we could house our full ready-to-wear and swim collections in a more relaxed environment,” said Simone Zimmermann. “The new store will allow us to bring a little bit more of our Australian fashion story to New York.” John Cahill, a real estate broker at Colliers, represented Zimmermann.