Chloe Burney
30 October 2024
Harrods is celebrating the festive season with Loro Piana’s ‘Workshop of Wonders’. The storied Italian wool merchant is set to take over 36 windows of the department store’s iconic Brompton Road façade as well as stage two pop-ups within its hallowed halls.
Workshop of Wonders displays a magical – and of course, festive - journey into the Maison's unique world of fibres, fabrics and symbols. What brand could be more fitting for a Harrods festive takeover than the ultra-luxury house renowned for its winter fabrics? Running from 7 November to 2 January 2025, it celebrates not only the festive season but also the 1924-founded brand's 100 years of history and heritage. Façade and windows
The façade tells the story of a fibre transported in bales, flowing through conveyor belts, transforming into cloth and turning into a 17-metre holiday tree decorated with swathes of fabric and festive ornaments. Through the Loro Pina lens, Workshops of Wonders tells the story of the brand’s manufacturing process where the rarest materials make their way to the factory in Quarona, Italy where they’re turning into ready-to-wear and beyond – perfect for holiday gift-giving.
Darkness is lit up, evocative of a time-worn feel and festive mood. The scenes are enhanced by woody textures finished with warm tones and glints of matte gold. Blurring the line between reality and fantasy, each window features hand-painted puppets and is framed by hand-knitted cashmere clouds. In the main window, a rotating globe sits atop a miniature version of Loro Piana’s factory in Quarona. Here, fine materials from around the world can be tracked to the brand’s factory where magic is made. The finishing touch? A Harrods Green-clad man sits on the clouds above the globe, a symbol of the ties between the two brands. In-Store boutiques As part of the ongoing festivities, two new boutiques will open in Harrods. The first is dedicated to the Kids Collection and one to Loro Piana Interiors. In addition, pop-up shops welcome RTW, accessories, children’s, home and holiday items. The Door 6 pop-up hosts a selection of neckwear pieces and beanies in Baby Cashmere, wool, and silk twill in solid hues or decorated with signature bear and thistle flower motifs, among others. Cosy socks round out the offering. For the home, there are wooden goats and alpacas also available in plush versions on a wooden base. A special corner is dedicated to the monogrammed personalisation of Loro Piana’s iconic Grande Unita fringed cashmere scarf. Comfortable and softly cocooning, it is considered the House’s first icon, unveiled in the 1980s. As for the Door 9 pop-up, visitors can purchase Loro Piana’s first book ‘Master of Fibers’, stuffed animals, whimsical keepsakes and ornaments. The space also hosts a makeshift workshop where guests can get to crafting to make a holiday decoration. Harrods special products At Harrods, Loro Piana is offering exclusive colours of its classic winter wares for men and women. Classic silhouettes from leather goods to accessories are rendered in exclusive colourways and fabrics. For example, for women, the tasselled Dot Sole loafers will be available in exclusive light camel, dusty orange and terracotta orange hues, alongside the Rebecca ballet flats in Melton cashmere.
The department store will also be home to the new dawn-to-dark offering, which channels a subtle British undercurrent with its equestrian touches, checks and touches of Harrods green.