We’re expecting the chicest hotel imaginable
You would think being the creative director of Chanel, Fendi and his own eponymous line, conceptualising everything from engagement rings to Diet Coke cans and having a successful side career as a photographer, would keep Karl Lagerfeld pretty busy. The latest string to his bow for this over-achiever? Casually building an international hospitality brand.
According to WWD, with Karl Lagerfeld Hotels & Resorts, the genius German designer will lend his signature aesthetic to bespoke projects from hotels and residential properties, to restaurants and private clubs. Pierpaolo Righi, president and chief executive officer of Karl Lagerfeld, said the move into hospitality reflects a wish to ‘broaden Karl Lagerfeld’s comprehensive lifestyle experience.’
The new venture is in partnership with Brandmark Collective BV, an Amsterdam-born global Marketing and Branding Agency established in 2015, the founders of which have spawned more than 25 hotels worldwide. Brandmark ceo Tony Kurz added that their long-term deal would bring a concept that ‘celebrates the designer’s unique talent and approach to fashion and lifestyle.’
Perhaps with this in mind, Kaiser Karl has ramped up his interior design projects recently, most notably with a 270-room hotel in Macau on the south coast of China. Slated to launch next year, it is expected to be a ‘six-star’ property. Past projects include the Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo in Monaco, the Sofitel So Singapore, and two suites for the palatial Hôtel de Crillon in Paris.
The 83-year-old designer follows in the footsteps of Giorgio Armani (who has hotels in Dubai and Milan), Bulgari (who opened the doors to its stunning London hotel in 2012) and Versace (with luxury hotels from London to Brisbane).
With his bustling travel schedule, it’s safe to say he’s pretty au fait with hotels around the world, so we can’t wait to see what luxe new additions he creates. If his epic Chanel show sets (featuring everything from Vegas-style casinos to a Chanel-branded supermarket) are anything to go by, they’re sure to be pretty spectacular.
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