SWISS LUXURY SHOEMAKER LE MAJORDOME LANDS IN NEW YORK

Swiss luxury shoemaker LE MAJORDOME has opened its first New York City flagship at 485 Madison Avenue. This marks the brand’s debut in the North American market since its founding in 2012.

Much like the footwear brand’s European stores, the fourth location for the label will offer a uniquely personalized retail experience, where shoppers can create made-to-order shoes together with a LE MAJORDOME design expert or browse a selection of seasonally updated ready-to-wear styles that effortlessly bridge the gap between classic and modern.

The brand’s proud dedication of service is reflected in its name – LE MAJORDOME – which translates to “the butler” in French, one of the two main languages spoken in Fribourg, Switzerland, where owners Gian-Luca Cavigelli and Daniel Bucheli were raised. This commitment to personalized service started with the label’s unique made-to-order offering and extends to the ready-to-wear collection, which debuted in 2017.

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LE MAJORDOME’s newest retail location on Madison Avenue is the latest physical incarnation of the brand’s vision, featuring a minimal and raw design aesthetic that makes the space feel more like an artisanal workshop than a traditional luxury store. Concrete floors, metal pipe details, and raw wood displays are contrasted with antique wooden furniture and modern studio lighting. In the corner, a functional workbench reminds the shopper that this is not just a shopping destination, but a working atelier where the team spends time perfecting every pair of shoes before they go home with their new owner. LE MAJORDOME’s commitment to sustainability in both production and design is represented throughout the space, where upcycled shoe boxes are used for displays and belt boxes for lampshades. Nothing within the space is frivolous, and even the purchased design pieces are selected for their durability and ability to last for a century or more.

“Opening a store in Manhattan has been a dream for our company for many years,” said Bucheli. “The turmoil that the pandemic brought to the world over the past year has made all of highly aware of how fleeting time and life itself can be – and that there’s no time like the present to actively pursue your dreams. We strongly believe in the New York retail market and are excited to be a part of its recovery post-lockdowns.”

Along with the made-to-order service, the brand’s autumn/winter 2021 ready-to-wear collection is also available both in-store and online at lemajordome.com. An offering of re-imagined classic styles as well as more fashion-forward shapes rounds out a collection that provides a shoe for just about every occasion. All LE MAJORDOME shoes are crafted in Spain utilizing Goodyear welted construction. In addition to the core collection, standout styles from the made-to-order offering include a sleek yet functional galosh loafer, a multi-leather Chelsea boot, and a classic English-inspired lace-up Derby Boot. While the core collection is available for immediate purchase, each style within the offering can be made-to-order to satisfy one’s personal preference when it comes to materials, colors, and other design details – a process that takes 10 weeks from design to delivery.