Jewelry in 'quarantine' and an exhaustive cleaning: this is how it is to buy again in the stores of the big luxury firms

Going shopping is just one more of the daily tasks that were put on hold due to the health crisis. With the gradual improvement of the situation and as the de-escalation phases have allowed shops and boutiques to open, it is once again possible to rediscover what it was like to go shopping. In this new normality, hygiene measures are a priority in all establishments and large firms are making an extra effort to guarantee a safe and pleasant shopping experience. We compile below what are the measures that the flagship luxury labels are carrying out, after the reopening of their spaces.

Louis Vuitton, resume the journey

Buying one of its iconic bags or any of its prêt-à-porter pieces again is now possible. The stores of the French maison in our country have already opened their doors –with the exception of those located inside El Corte Inglés– and the appointment modality is still available for those customers who feel more comfortable requesting it (either by phone, or in the Web).

Following the measures imposed by the Government, those concept stores larger than 400 square meters, such as the one in Barcelona, ​​have adapted their operating size to this limitation and maintain capacity at 30%. In addition, they have included signage to make it much easier to comply with the safety distance.

Both employees and clients must use hydroalcoholic gel, masks and gloves and, although the changing rooms remain open, they are disinfected after each use. The same happens with the firm's garments and accessories, which are conditioned when they are touched or tried on and spend 48 hours in quarantine before being available for purchase again. We may not be able to travel many kilometers away yet, but it is already possible to travel through the designs of the historic label.

This is the Louis Vuitton store in Madrid. Photo: Louis Vuitton

Cartier, buying a jewel in the new normality

Although it is already possible to visit the physical spaces of Cartier without an appointment, the jewelery brand also continues to offer the possibility of arranging a visit by phone or through the web. Once in the store, the firm's employees receive each client with hydroalcoholic gel to guarantee the correct disinfection of the hands and also offer them a mask, in the event that they do not wear it, following the obligation contained in the BOE that dictates that it must be used in "any closed space for public use".

When touching the pieces, the client has to put on gloves. Of course it is possible to try on the jewels, but in the event that they are not sold, they must spend a day in quarantine to guarantee that there is no risk. Thus, they comply with the recommendation of the Ministry of Health, which rules that, in the case of jewelry, it is enough that 24 hours elapse so that, if there has been a virus, it is completely eliminated. After this quarantine, each piece is disinfected using a specific wipe that does not damage it, before returning to stock.

Cartier, a reference in the jewelery sector since it was founded in Paris in 1847, also offers a special service –available on the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands– whereby any piece that needs repair is collected and delivered to the customer's home.

The panther and the peacock, symbols of Cartier and Madrid. Photo: Manolo Yllera

Loewe, return to the temple of crafts

"We are pleased to announce that we are reopening our stores and hope to see you soon." This is how Loewe communicated the return to the (new) normality of its physical spaces in our country. It is possible to get one of their coveted leather bags or one of the pieces designed by JW Anderson for this spring by asking for an appointment on the phone of the store in question or going directly, since the brand manages the capacity avoiding crowds and queues .

Once inside, all staff are protected with masks –they are renewed several times a day– and regularly clean their hands with disinfectant gel, which is also available to customers and must be used before touching any product. Although the restrooms remain closed, the changing rooms are open and are cleaned after each use. Before the reopening, the brand disinfected all the garments, which go through a cleaning process again every time someone tries them on. Lastly, all store surfaces are wiped down every two hours to increase safety.

Those who prefer to make their purchases online should know that they can request contactless delivery, pick up their order at the Loewe store of their choice or even reserve the piece through the website and complete the purchase process physically after 48 hours.

Casa Loewe Madrid has already reopened its doors. Photo: Loewe

Gucci, invest (safely) in Italian luxury

Madrid, Barcelona and Marbella. The stores that the label led by Alessandro Michele, who a few hours ago was reflecting on Instagram about the future of the brand, has spread across our geography are also already open and little by little they are filling up with customers eager to get hold of one of their coveted garments and accessories.

The priority, they confirm from the firm, is to take care of clients and workers so, in addition to training staff on how to act within this new normality, they have thoroughly disinfected the spaces before reopening and are carrying out measures to ensure maximum hygiene (disinfecting the counter each time it is used by a customer is just one example).

In addition to providing a mask, gloves – and even plastic glasses if necessary – both to the brand team and to those visitors who do not have them, several dispensers of hydroalcoholic gel and paper tissues have been placed in the stores. Staff must disinfect their hands each time they receive a new client and to minimize contact, a tray is used to present leather goods and jewelry, while clothes are left hanging directly in the dressing room, which is also cleaned after each use. . Those garments that are not sold are quarantined in a space set up for this purpose and it is not possible to try the products of the beauty line, while the perfumes can only be sprayed on the blotting paper strips.

Although the appointment is no longer necessary, it is recommended. In this de-escalation, Gucci stores continue to display the usual careful image since the visual merchandising team remains in constant contact with the Italian parent company virtually. Signage has not been installed to maintain distances, but the team is aware that they are complied with at all times. Those customers who want to enjoy the usual drinks and services offered by the firm will do so from now on using single-use crockery. This will be discarded, as will the PPE used by customers, which can be deposited in bins provided at the store exit. Contrary to what used to happen before, the shopping bags are not delivered by hand to the customer, but rather the customer picks them up from the counter. What follows as always, is what they harbor.