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With the recent re-opening of Radley

London’s store at Braintree Village, it was yet another indication of how the venue is fast becoming Essex’s hub for fashion

To say Absolutely is having a love in with Braintree Village is an understatement. We were blown away in February when the venue brought a little love to guests, as it partnered with Moniker Culture to present a weeklong love takeover to mark Valentine’s Day.

The 10-day urban art takeover aimed to bring love to the heart of Braintree Village by working with illustrative artists and bringing modern art installations and high impact visuals to celebrate love in all its forms; for each other, our communities and the world.

Guests were greeted by an extraordinary 5m x 5m heart installation in the entrance arch, setting the tone of the playful campaign. Further heart-shaped inflatables were dotted around the outlet, alongside colourful vinyls of artist illustrations, which provided a not-to-be-missed photo opportunity.

Central to the Essex outlet’s love campaign was its ‘Art House’ – a physical pop-up art space in the centre of the shopping village, where artists and poets hosted exclusive workshops free of charge. The bold art project, in conjunction with Moniker Culture and named the ‘Heart of the Village’, worked with a number of leading female creatives, including British commercial artist and illustrator Rachael Presky, as well as illustrator Inma Hortas from Madrid.

It was just the latest must-visit from a venue that is truly showcasing the best in fashion and culture. Late last year, Braintree Village announced the re-opening of Radley London following a major refit, which has seen the brand redesign into its second new concept store, making it the second largest of its kind in the UK.

Taking inspiration from their HQ in London, Braintree Village’s new ‘townhouse’ store has been specially designed to create an elevated shopping experience with design elements drawn from the opulent Georgian architecture of Mayfair.

Josef O’Sullivan, Centre Director at Braintree Village, says: “We are thrilled to be home to the second largest Radley London store in the UK, following its refurbishment. The new design elevates the in-store experience.”

Kevin Morris, Head of Retail at Radley London, adds: “We know what a loyal customer base we have, especially at our current Braintree Village store, and we can’t wait for them to enjoy an even more welcoming Radley London space. As we develop our retail strategy, we want our stores to give our customers the ultimate Radley London experience. Our team are thrilled to welcome customers into the new ‘townhouse’ design and are excited to support them in finding their perfect new bag.”

As well as its extensive range of leather handbag styles, the store will also o er guests coats, knitwear, sleepwear and footwear along with a variety of accessories including diaries, compact mirrors and foldable totes, through to gifting.

Founded in 1998, Radley London was born with a passion for artisan-made handbags, footwear, and accessories. Now with over 20 stores, the infamous Scottie dog insignia can be spotted on the arms of thousands of people all over the world.

This followed Braintree Village welcoming a Champion outlet to its line-up, with a 2,309 sqft store located opposite Calvin Klein, on the centre's North Mall. Vicky Ringer, Head of Retail at Champion, said at the time: “We are proud to be launching our fifth Champion outlet store, and Braintree Village is the perfect location in the heart of Essex. Our store’s team is looking forward to hosting and showing you our exciting collections in store, with menswear, childrenswear, womenswear, footwear, and accessories all available to shop.”

The new Champion store joined a stellar line-up of more than 70 premium brands and high-street names at Braintree Village, which now includes a who’s who of fashion: Adidas, Armani, Barbour, Calvin Klein, Crew Clothing, Dune London… And that’s just A-D of the alphabet. And with big things to come – Tommy Hilfiger are set to open a new store is the latest announcement – it’s clear that Braintree Village is the fashion destination in Essex for 2023.

For more information, visit braintree-village.com