Virtual Armani, the new fashion store in Second Life

The renown fashion designer Giorgio Armani has recently opened up an online boutique on the 3-D virtual world Second Life. The store is modeled on his flagship location in Milan.
“In the last seven years, I have seen mounting enthusiasm for online fashion shopping in the United States through the growing success we have had with our A|X Armani Exchange site,” Armani told WWD. “Over this same period I have also observed the increasing sophistication of fashion consumers shopping online, which has encouraged me to develop this new site for my Emporio Armani lifestyle.”
Armani said he will send an avatar of himself to the celebrate the opening of the store.
“Finally, I can really be in two places at once,” the ever-busy (even workaholic) stylist who launched a mobile phone on Monday, said in the statement.

second life armani t-shirt

Second Life residents will be able to buy items virtually with Linden Dollars — the currency of the virtual world — or they can connect directly from there to his recently-launched online store at www.emporioarmani.com for non-virtual vestments.
The designer said there are only 10 Emporio Armani freestanding stores in the U.S. and that the Web site will enable consumers nationwide to shop the entire collection.

second life fashion

Initially, only U.S. residents will be able to shop, but the company plans to expand the site to Europe next year and to Asia after that. “America is the most advanced country for e-commerce. It’s only logical to launch there first,” said Robert Triefus, Armani’s executive vice president of worldwide communications.
Armani, known worldwide for his elegant fashions for women, has already diversified into a range of other sectors, including home furnishings and hotels.
He announced on Sunday a joint venture with Samsung Electronics for a sleek, black mobile phone and eventually other home electronics, including a liquid crystal display television designed with the South Korean firm.

Source: Second Life Reuters