Kookaï and K-Way make UK and London West End debut as Carnaby Street boosts fashion line up
Shaftesbury Capital reports that Australian womenswear brand Kookaï and French outerwear retailer K-Way have opened on Carnaby Street in Soho, London.
Occupying 1,800 sq ft, Kookaï has launched its debut permanent UK location at 37 Carnaby Street, following go lives across Australia, New Zealand and Europe. The new boutique style flagship features a selection of womenswear, designed exclusively from its Melbourne studio.
Located at 26-27 Carnaby Street, K-Way has opened its West End debut. The 1,400 sq ft flagship marks a key stage in the expansion for the retailer, which, like Kookaï, has an extensive presence across Western Europe. The new location stocks its signature outerwear across menswear, womenswear, childrenswear, and accessories.
William Oliver, Director of Retail & Restaurant Leasing at Shaftesbury Capital, says: “Both Kookaï and K-Way are great additions to Carnaby Street, bringing something distinct that will resonate with our visitors and contribute to the street’s constant evolution. Carnaby Street’s mix of best-in-class retailers sets it apart from other retail destinations across the UK - welcoming firsts like Edikted, TALA, and Eme Studios. We’re confident Kookaï and K-Way will add to that unique dynamic.”
Bianca Vagner Cromb, Creative Director at Kookaï, says: “Opening our UK debut on Carnaby Street is a major milestone for Kookaï, being the perfect location to really cement our position in the market. The destination offers unmatched visibility, as well as the opportunity to sit alongside other like-minded, global brands. The success we’ve seen so far with the new iteration gives us real confidence in the brand’s future, and this launch marks the beginning of a fantastic relationship with UK consumers.”
Kookaï and K-Way will be joined by Spanish streetwear brand Eme Studios, which has signed to launch its UK debut at 57 Carnaby Street.
2026 RTIH Innovation Awards
Physical stores will be a key focus area at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.
The awards are now open for entries and celebrate global retail technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
Our winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.
Check out our 2025 winners here.
Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”
“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”
He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”
Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.
