Canada’s The Bay department store delivers a new take on one of the department store sector’s biggest trends – designer and exclusive labels.

Canada department store, The Bay (formerly known as Hudson Bay), has pushed the envelope on department store retailing when it comes to its Toronto designer fashion space, The Room.

Which is probably why it won the Retail Design Institute’s (RDI) International Store Design Award in New York earlier this year.

Designed by Toronto-based Yabu Pushelberg along with The Bay CEO Bonnie Brooks, the 1858sqm space uses white as colour base, punctuated by polished metal, glass, chandeliers and geometric curves to showcase its wares.

Launched in October last year at a cost A$3.8 million, the refurbishment saw the doubling in size of the store’s iconic St Regis Room to create The Room, which now encompasses more than 70 high fashion labels and European lines, some of which are exclusive to The Bay.

It houses designer brands including Balmain, Comrags, Tahari, Akris, Moschino, Halston, Brian Atwood and Pabal Gurung.

According to the institutes’ judging panel The Room “transformed and changed the perception of space”.

There are 92 The Bay stores throughout Canada, however, The Room, which is located at its Queen St Toronto store, will remain one of a kind.

This feature first appeared in Inside Retailing Magazine. Click here to subscribe.