Arket, the fashion brand, continues its expansion in Italy with the opening of a new store in Rome, following the success of its Milan flagship which opened in 2024. The new Roman store, located on the exclusive Via Frattina, a major luxury and fashion shopping street, will open its doors on Friday. Arket's Managing Director and H&M group veteran, Pernilla Wohlfahrt, expressed her enthusiasm for the Italian market, highlighting the high demand for fashion, quality, and craftsmanship in the country.
The Rome store spans 7,158 square feet across three floors, a size considerably smaller than the Milan store, which is spread across Piazza Cordusio. Arket's expansion strategy includes both first-tier cities and smaller towns, following the example of Sweden, where the second store opened in Malmo after the debut in the capital, Stockholm, in 2018.
The interior design of the Roman store follows the Arket line, paying homage to local culture and architecture. The grand staircase connecting the three floors is made of Rosso Levanto red marble, flanked by minimalist displays and furniture. The interior, decorated in gray tones with a matching terrazzo floor alternating with parquet, features wooden furniture in light and dark tones, a nod to Scandinavian design.
Wohlfahrt highlighted the central location of the store in Rome, offering a curated selection of Arket products, including women's and men's clothing, accessories, body care products, and design items. The brand is constantly seeking to meet the demands of its customers, with plans to add fragrances in the future, as well as expanding its range of home goods.
Arket's expansion began in 2014, with the opening of 11 stores, including Barcelona, Spain, and Warsaw, Poland. Last year was the busiest for the Swedish brand, with 14 new flagship stores in key European markets such as Oslo and Bergen in Norway; Vienna; Prague, Czech Republic; and Dublin. For 2026, retail consolidation includes additional openings in Athens, Greece; Vilnius, Lithuania; and its third store in Warsaw.
The brand, launched in 2017 on Regent Street, London, has been steadily gaining momentum, expanding in Europe and Asia-Pacific. Germany and the UK are the strongest countries in Europe for Arket, which is also focused on Asia, where China and South Korea are experiencing significant growth.
The brand is considering expanding its product offerings, including fragrances and home goods, to meet the demands of its customers. Wohlfahrt did not rule out the opening of more stores in Italy in the long term, showing Arket's commitment to the Italian market.
Arket's expansion strategy focuses on first-tier cities like Milan and Rome, but also considers smaller cities, seeking sustained growth and a greater presence in the global market. Arket is attentive to market trends and adapting its offer to meet the needs of its customers.
The opening of the store in Rome reflects Arket's strategy of offering high-quality products, with a distinctive Scandinavian design adapted to the local market. The careful selection of materials and attention to detail in the interior design of the Roman store are a clear example of this approach.
The brand strives to create an attractive and relevant shopping experience for its customers, combining fashion, quality, and craftsmanship. Expansion in Italy is an important step in Arket's global growth strategy, which seeks to establish itself as a benchmark brand in the fashion market.