NEW YORK, NY – MAY 11: Founder of Martone Bicycles, Lorenzo Martone attends as Saks Fifth Avenue and Well+Good celebrate the Saks Wellery at Saks Fifth Avenue on May 11, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Saks Fifth Avenue)
Lorenzo Martone’s Martone Cycling Co. has found a new home on the second floor of Saks Fifth Avenue in Manhattan at the just-opened Saks Wellery. The first-of-its-kind space is a shopping destination of 22 individual shops and studios devoted to wellness where you can get activewear, skincare products, equipment, take a class (seriously!), and check out Martone’s gorgeous line of bikes and accessories. Our favorite Brazilian (sorry Gisele!) tells us about the pop-up, which runs through October 31.
How did this come about?
I was visiting my mom in Brazil in January and got a call from Eric Jennings who told me about the concept of transforming the second floor into something that he was calling “the new luxury.” We had a long talk about how luxury has been evolving and how wellness is the future of luxury and how people care about experiences versus actual product. We have been working with Saks since Day One online, but we never had a presence in the store, so he offered to partner and give Martone Cycling a place in this space. We’ve never been a full store in a department store so this is really groundbreaking. We created Martone to be a fashion and lifestyle brand, and this is proof of that concept. This can live among Chanel and Vuitton and other brands and it doesn’t feel so random.
How hard was it to put this space together?
Do you really want to know? [Laughs] It was pretty much like having a baby. It was a lot of work, but it was still a fashion project and something I feel completely involved in. I feel happy that four years later this still feels fresh and we don’t have any competition. No one is occupying that space of fashion bikes so I’m excited about that.
How many bikes are here?
There are 12. Our latest is rose gold and it comes with a necklace. We have sunglasses here that are in the color of the bikes so you can have the total look. They are also reflected on the inside so if you are biking, you can see if a car is coming behind you. You can also get helmets, bags, and baskets.
Can people come in and walk out with a bike?
No. The accessories are available to walk out with, but the bikes can be chosen here and then we ship them to any country or city. It takes five business days in the U.S. and two weeks if it’s out of the country.
What’s next for the brand?
This is our third store this season. We opened in London and Toronto, and on Memorial Day we’re going to open at Platform in Culver City in Los Angeles. In terms of product development, we’re going to introduce cycling activewear.
Finally, how’s the love life?
I’ve never been so happy! I feel like I won the lottery. Finally!
