Limited Edition Experiences Brings extraordinary fashion houses to the Miami Design District

Limited Edition Experiences brings extraordinary fashion houses to the Miami Design District to present unique temporary stores, programming and events

Stores open November 30^th concurrently with Design Miami/ and will remain open through the season

Wednesday, November 6, 2009 – Limited Edition Experiences, a program that brings together the world’s most innovative fashion houses to create retail experiences of unique inventiveness will launch in the Miami Design District on November 30^th for a limited time. The program will gather together some of the world’s most sought-after designers, including Fendi; Cynthia Rowley; Maison Martin Margiela; Duncan Quinn; Christopher Ross; Katherine Fleming; Neon Monster; Stubbs & Wootton; and others, to present limited edition merchandise as well as radically innovative programming and environments that reflect their creative viewpoints.

Limited Edition Experiences, which includes a multi-brand store called the F Factory, will re-invigorate the shopping experience.  Some programming highlights include:

• Cynthia Rowley will create a bucolic pleasure garden playfully toys with the boundaries between indoors and outdoors.  Within the airy atrium of the 4141 building sits one of the designer’s high-end boutiques re-imagined as a chic shop-on-wheels and an interactive countryside setting inviting visitors for a picnic lunch and a roll in the grass.

• Duncan Quinn will create his own townhouse in the Miami Design District.  Complete with an indoor croquet course.  It will feature a duncan quinn ready to wear store with numerous special editions just for Miami.  And of course, a bespoke salon for the finest handmade suits and shirts known to man.

• Fendi will debut its limited edition design ‘Needle Point Stitch Kit’ created by Silvia Venturini Fendi.  Each basic canvas baguette comes with guideline drawings and string -  in a variety of color – allowing the consumer to customize and stitch her own bag.  Fendi will serve as an anchor tenant of the F Factory.

• Maison Martin Margiela is proud to announce the opening of  Maison Martin Margiela, temporary shop, Miami, Florida.  Maison Martin Margiela has, since its founding in 1988, made Paris its home.  Now, 21 years later it opens Maison Martin Margiela, Miami, temporary home to all Maison Martin Margiela collections in the Miami Design District.

• Christopher Ross will present a collection of highly detailed animal belt buckles featuring cheetahs, griffon fish, snakes, foxes and eagles.  The pieces are hand dipped in 24K gold and made from the original molds. These buckles, each hand signed by Christopher Ross, will be shown alongside a documentary about his collection of historical art and antiques from the great European empires.

• Katherine Fleming a Miami native commissioned 16 artists to refurbish her python “Jane” clutch.  The handbags will be auctioned to benefit the Bas Fisher Invitational, which provides emerging artists with a venue to present their work.  Katherine Fleming will also be selling her spring clutches and SLG’s throughout the month long exhibition. 

• Marni will offer an exclusive “Marni For Miami” bag in its Miami boutique this December.  The bag features signature dots in vintage Marni canvas, leather double handles with silver studs, and a leather label inside embossed with MARNI FOR MIAMI.  The MARNI FOR MIAMI program supports local arts institutions such as Miami Art Museum and the Bass Museum through benefit shopping nights at the Marni store.

• FLVeloce is an off-shoot from the highly acclaimed Fratelli Lyon, FLVeloce provides an intimate setting for shoppers to recharge while shopping the halls at F Factory.  FLVeloce offers an extensive selection of antipasti, salads and panini as well as organic wine, hand-crafted brews and homemade sodas.  Taste Miami’s version of “la Dolce Vita.”

In addition, Gucci will launch the second installment of ICON-TEMPORARY, a flash sneaker  store  that  will debut later this month in New York.  For this unique retail experience, Gucci  Creative Director Frida Giannini has collaborated with award-winning musical artist Mark Ronson on the design of  a limited edition collection of Gucci Ronson sneakers.  After Miami,

Gucci ICON-TEMPORARY will move on to London and Tokyo.

Craig Robins, Founder and CEO of Dacra, said:  “Dacra is committed to creating vibrant neighborhoods and communities, and we think Limited Edition Experiences is going to bring something entirely new to the marketplace by collaborating with an unprecedented roster of creative talents.  As a group, we agree that the best response to the recent changes in the global economic climate is to increase our creative output, make bolder choices and offer people more value in the form of really magical experiences.”

The program will launch on November 30^th, the day preceding the opening of Design Miami/, the pre-eminent forum for the presentation of limited edition and collectible design, which attracts more than 20,000 collectors to the Miami Design District throughout the first week of December, and will continue through the spring of 2010.  Limited Edition Experiences will also include additional programming and events by permanent Miami Design District businesses, including Christian Louboutin (opening November 2009); Tomas Maier; Nektar De Stagni; and Poliform.  The program was created for Dacra, the owner of more than 80% of the 18-square block Miami Design District, by Susan Ainsworth of Ainsworth Associates.

About Dacra

Dacra is an innovative real estate company that uses architecture, art, design and cultural programming to build creative international destinations.  The company is comprised of a variety of entities and brands that work together to contribute to the development of every element of a dynamic community. With international projects, developments and events that focus on art and design, Dacra has redefined the parameters of real estate development.  For more information visit www.dacra.com.