J.Crew Expanding Presence in London

WWD reported that J. Crew is planning to open it's fourth London outpost in Sloane Square. The 4,500 square-foot store will open its doors in September with Tiffany & Co., Kate Spade, Smythson and Cartier as neighbors.

This new store will feature something brand new for the retailer - a vertical "living garden." J.Crew is teaming up with Buglife, a charity for the conservation of bees and other bugs. The living garden consisting of 8,000 plants of 81 varieties will cover the building's facade in order to attract bees and help pollination.

Jenna Lyons, J. Crew Group Inc.'s president and executive creative director said she was very impacted by a recent piece on "60 Minutes" about the dying bee populations. "I was incredibly shaken by it," she said and felt this was the perfect opportunity to pair up with Buglife.

Lyons admitted that the company had not initially planned on expanding with another store so quickly but the space became available. "Sloane Square was on our radar as an area that we liked, and the space came available more quickly than anticipated," she said.

The Sloane Square store will house the best of the men's and women's collections, including cashmere and Ludlow, handbags, accessories and collaborations.