Lamborghini Opens Second North American Merchandise Boutique In Vancouver

Ferrari’s merchandising outfit has been wildly successful for the famed sports car company. Walk down any street in a major city, and you’re guaranteed to see at least a few people wearing some kind of Ferrari branded gear, whether it’s a baseball cap, Puma driving shoes, a watch or an umbrella. Most cities have some kind of Ferrari standalone boutique, where there are no cars on display, but you can buy any kind of merchandise you want, from books to teddy bears to scale models.

Now, Lamborghini is hoping to get in on the act, and the Bolognese outfit has been launching its own boutique chain, with two stores launched in Los Angeles and Beijing in 2009. A third store in Vancouver opened its doors last weekend, and Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann was in attendance to commemorate its opening.

“The philosophy behind the Collezione Automobili Lamborghini fashion line is synonymous with the traits of each Lamborghini vehicle: Extreme, Uncompromising and unmistakably Italian,” stated Winkelmann in a press release. “Vancouver’s strong luxury market makes it a proper fit for expanding our line of fashion boutiques while remaining authentic to our brand DNA.”

The move into branded gear is an astute one. Let’s face it, more people can afford a $100 polo shirt than a $250,000 car. The Lamborghini store website has a few really nice items, like the driving shoes, the silk ties (nicer than the ties offered in some real boutiques) and the very cool Diablo driving gloves. For now, Ferrari’s tie ups with major clothing companies like Puma, as well as their Formula 1 fanbase, gives them the upper hand, but if Lamborghini stays the course with their subtle designs and cool color palettes (black and yellow is more pleasing than Ferrari red for some people), they just might be able to unseat their long-time rival in the apparel department.

Lamborghini also offers Merchandise for sale online at http://store.lamborghini.com

Press Release After The Jump

10/05/2010 LAMBORGHINI OPENS FIRST CANADIAN FASHION BOUTIQUE IN VANCOUVER

Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., welcomed customers, VIPs and Lamborghini executives to the exclusive grand opening celebration of the newest Automobili Lamborghini Boutique, located in Aberdeen Centre in Vancouver, last Saturday May 8.

The boutique is the first Automobili Lamborghini boutique to open in Canada, and follows the openings in Los Angeles and Beijing in late 2009. These cities were strategically chosen for their locations as centers of luxury commerce.

“The philosophy behind the Collezione Automobili Lamborghini fashion line is synonymous with the traits of each Lamborghini vehicle: Extreme, Uncompromising and unmistakably Italian,” stated Winkelmann. “Vancouver’s strong luxury market makes it a proper fit for expanding our line of fashion boutiques while remaining authentic to our brand DNA.”

In celebration of the opening, customers and VIPs were treated to a cocktail party and Collezione runway fashion show, featuring products from the Spring/Summer 2010 line.

Positioned inside the high-end Aberdeen Centre, the Automobili Lamborghini Boutique will sell items from the Collezione fashion line, comprised of men’s, women’s and junior’s collections for all four seasons. These collections include beautifully styled Italian leather accessories including hats, shoes, briefcases, and more; as well as Lamborghini crested t-shirts, sweatshirts and accessories. The collection is tailored not only to Lamborghini buyers, but to the luxury consumer who values quality, style and elegance.

“The Automobili Lamborghini Boutique provides an outlet to introduce the brand to a wider audience of super sports car enthusiasts in Vancouver,” said Asgar Virji of Weissach Performance, which owns and operates the boutique and the Lamborghini Vancouver dealership in downtown. “Lamborghini owners and enthusiasts can access clothing and accessories that epitomize the Lamborghini lifestyle and allow them to express their passion for the brand and its heritage.”

Collezione Automobili Lamborghini is available at authorized Lamborghini dealers and online at http://store.lamborghini.com.