Emporio Armani and Burberry store Sydney Airport

INTERNATIONAL FASHION ICON SETS HIS SIGHTS ON SYDNEY AIRPORT

Italian fashion giant Giorgio Armani will unveil an exclusive flagship store in Sydney Airport's International Terminal it was revealed today.

This is the first time the internationally renowned fashion designer has opened an Emporio Armani store in an Australian Airport.

The store will join a stable of globally recognised and eminent fashion brands including Ralph Lauren and Fendi, all offering discerning travellers the ultimate collection in first-class fashion and accessories.

Derek Larsen, General Manager, Retail for Sydney Airport Corporation Limited said; "Giorgio Armani is highly regarded as one of the masterminds of global fashion and style. We are thrilled this prominent designer is opening a boutique in Sydney's International Airport.

"Throughout the massive $500 million expansion and redevelopment of our International Terminal we have always held steadfast to a common goal - to deliver a world-class, world-leading airport to the people of Sydney and the 10 million people who travel via her every year."

Mr Larsen continued, "To accomplish this goal we are building a new innovative and luxurious retail experience that will be unsurpassed in Australia."

The Emporio Armani store will officially open its doors in November 2009 and will be housed in 'The Forum' a new shopping precinct currently under construction as part of the Terminal expansion.

Along with a range of luxury experiences that includes jewellery, fine dining and fashion, The Forum will host a diverse selection of exciting specialty retail and food and beverage outlets.

The Emporio Armani store, designed by Giorgio Armani in collaboration with an in-house team of architects, will closely follow the design-concept of other Emporio Armani stores in Paris, London, Milan, Boston and Melbourne.

The new store will embody Giorgio Armani's vision of the modern, cosmopolitan fashion lifestyle and will offer the complete Emporio Armani collection for men and women including formal and casual wear, sportswear, leather accessories, watches, eyewear and jewellery collections.

As the most profitable retail asset (per square metre) in Australia (double the annual turnover per square metre of some of Australia's largest shopping centres ), Sydney Airport offers a lucrative opportunity for domestic and international retail outlets.

The Airport currently services over 32 million domestic and international passengers annually, with passenger numbers expected to more than double to 79 million per year over the next two decades.