Love Laura, the fast-growing Irish womenswear label created by Banbridge entrepreneur Laura Kearney, has opened its first ever standalone store at The Boulevard, Northern Ireland’s only premier designer outlet, creating 12 new jobs.
Opening in a 1,800sq ft unit, the store gives the brand a dedicated home of its own outside of The Walk in Wardrobe for the very first time. Shoppers can now browse the full Love Laura collection under one roof, with every piece in store from the brand’s own range, created by women for women.
Launched in 2024 by the founder of The Walk in Wardrobe, Love Laura has expanded to more than 250 products in under two years and has enjoyed multiple sell out collections. Each piece is designed with real bodies in mind, with a focus on flattering fits, quality fabrics and timeless style in sizes 6 to 18, including petite fits.
Customers will find everything from tailored blazers, statement coats and denim to knitwear, dresses, jumpsuits, nightwear and everyday basics, alongside the brand’s footwear and handbag collections.
Beginning her retail journey in Banbridge in 2014, Laura first took over a small boutique in the town and launched The Walk in Wardrobe. What started as a 500sq ft shop has since grown into a 14,000sq ft warehouse and a 3,000sq ft flagship store, with more than 350,000 orders fulfilled for customers in over 50 countries and a combined social community of more than 387,000 followers.
Love Laura’s arrival continues a run of landmark openings at The Boulevard, which in recent weeks has welcomed Crocs, Weird Fish and Hollywood Bowl, with Hollister also due to open its first outlet store on the island of Ireland later this month. The Boulevard has become known as a home for brand firsts, with kate spade ny, IKEA, French Connection, Adidas, Levi’s, Vila, BPerfect and TFG London among the retailers that chose it for their first or only location.
Laura Kearney, founder of The Walk in Wardrobe and Love Laura, said: “Opening the very first Love Laura store is something I’ve dreamt about since the day we launched the brand. Love Laura was built around real women and what they tell us they want from their wardrobes, so to finally welcome them into a space that is entirely ours is incredibly special.
“Banbridge is where my story started more than a decade ago, so it means the world to open our first Love Laura store here. The Boulevard’s strong footfall and dedicated customers from across the island, coupled with its exceptional calibre of brands made it the obvious choice for us. We have built a brilliant team of 12 for the new store, and we cannot wait to meet both our loyal customers and plenty of new faces.”
Chris Nelmes, retail director at The Boulevard, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Love Laura to The Boulevard. To be chosen as the home of the brand’s first ever standalone store is a real achievement, and it is all the more special that it comes from a Banbridge business with a female founder who has built something truly remarkable from her own hometown.
“The Boulevard has become a proven launchpad for first and only stores, and Love Laura shows that ambitious homegrown brands see that same opportunity as the international names already here. It brings a distinctive local label to our fashion offer as we head into our busiest season, giving shoppers another great reason to visit. We wish Laura and the team every success.”
