Text and photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla
Known for iconic design and fine lifestyle and technology focused products, Porsche Design has opened its first store in Canada in the heart of Toronto's key business and shopping district. The Porsche Design store at 77 Bloor Street West, opened its doors earlier today to showcase a variety of items including clothing, luggage, shoes and various accessories such as timepieces and even the super-exclusive BlackBerry P'9981 smartphone which is an aluminium encased smartphone with the guts and functionality of a BlackBerry Bold 9900 but which retails for a jaw-dropping $2,000.
“This collaboration stems from the shared belief that form equals function,” said Todd Wood, SVP for Industrial Design, Research In Motion. “The Porsche Design P’9981 is a truly modern luxury smartphone, where the timeless style of Porsche Design meets the unmatched mobile experience provided by BlackBerry.”
“We are very excited to bring Porsche Design to Canada,” says Dr. Juergen Gessler, CEO of the Porsche Design Group.
The Porsche Design BlackBerry P'9981 is an ultra luxurious statement smartphoneCEO of Porsche Design Group, Dr. Juergen Gessle opened up the store and explained some little known facts about Porsche design and its iconic products including its timepieces, sunglasses, shoes and the BlackBerry Smartphone.
The luxury brand which introduced some of the world’s most iconic fashion statements, including aviator glasses with an innovative interchangeable lens-mechanism and the world’s first black watch, will feature exclusively Porsche Design products in the 1,600 square foot (148 square meters) store. Porsche Design products include luxury collections in categories such as men’s and women’s fashion apparel, luggage, men’s activewear, writing tools, fragrances, smoking accessories, leather goods, jewelry, timepieces, eyewear and home accessories.
“We are very excited to bring Porsche Design to Canada,” says Dr. Juergen Gessler, CEO of the Porsche Design Group. “Most of these products have not been seen here before. We believe consumers of luxury fashion are going to be very excited with the elegance and range of our products.”
While the founder of the Porsche Design luxury brand, Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, had its roots in the classic automotive company that bears its name, the design company is a completely separate entity with a unique brand and product offering.
“At Porsche Design we believe to be cool is very easy for a brand, but to continue to stay cool in the future is the challenge. This means that you cannot follow trends but instead get the most out of what is working for a particular trend, while staying true to your history and heritage,” says Dr. Juergen Gessler. “It is important to be young in mind and interested in new ideas.”