If we’re talking Canadian glamour (and we are), it would be completely remiss not to feature Franco Savastano, one of the country’s, check, the planet’s, top fashion retail presidents and CEOs, who recently took up the reins at our homegrown luxury everything shop, Holt Renfrew.
Fully versed in the language of luxury fashion retail, with decades of success under his stylish belt at the likes of Globus and Jelmoli, the Swiss native brings an impeccable eye and sharp strategy to this new adventure and is poised to take Canada’s premier luxury retailer into the style stratosphere.
We recently checked in with the industry leader to get his take on what’s in store for customers at the Canadian luxury institution (literally and figuratively!), what Glamada means to him, and yes, the trends we can all look forward to this spring/summer:
FRANCO, HOLT RENFREW HAS LONG DEFINED LUXURY IN CANADA. IN A WORLD WHERE FASHION, CULTURE, AND EXPERIENCE INCREASINGLY INTERSECT, WHAT EXCITING CHAPTER LIES AHEAD FOR THE RETAILER UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP?
Holt Renfrew is a long-standing and proudly Canadian company, and I am deeply honoured to be part of its story. The company has always stood for service and curating the best fashion edits from Canada and around the world. We are very proud to be the leading lifestyle and luxury retailer in Canada for nearly 190 years.
Our current chapter is about taking our strengths and making them feel even more relevant, more experiential, and more connected. For me, the opportunity is to build a luxury ecosystem where product, culture, digital, and hospitality meet. Stores that feel more like destinations, and a client experience that’s seamless whether you’re shopping in person or digitally. Together with our amazing team, we can elevate what makes Holts unique: our point of view in curation, our relationships with our customers, and the best brands from around the world and here in Canada.
LUXURY CONSUMERS ARE MORE CONSCIOUS THAN EVER. WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE TRANSFORMING EUROPEAN LUXURY RETAILERS, WHAT OPPORTUNITIES EXIST FOR HOLT RENFREW TO MAKE SUSTAINABILITY FEEL BOTH RESPONSIBLE AND UNDENIABLY ASPIRATIONAL?
Customers are indeed more conscious than ever. For Holts, the opportunity is to make responsibility continue to feel effortless. That’s one of the reasons we created H Project—our platform to spotlight brands and products making measurable progress, from more responsible materials to stronger transparency and craftsmanship built to last. We can build on that by making circular services feel premium, for example, care and repair, and trusted pathways to extend a piece’s life, because longevity is one of the most luxurious qualities there is.
Holt Renfrew is a leader in sustainability and has been on an impressive journey with tangible results. We’ve established clear targets that are tracked and reported on. But what I think is the true success is the mindset embedded in who we are as a brand. Coming from Switzerland, I know and very much value why sustainability is so important. As my colleagues say, retail can be a force for good, and we are always looking for ways to push ourselves to be better.
THIS BEING OUR SPECIAL GLAMADA ISSUE, WHEN YOU THINK OF “CANADIAN GLAMOUR,” WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU, AND IN WHAT WAYS CAN HOLT RENFREW ELEVATE THAT UNIQUELY CANADIAN STYLE ON THE GLOBAL LUXURY STAGE?
I remember one of my first visits to Canada, and Montreal specifically, in 1997. I had the pleasure of visiting Holt Renfrew during that trip. I was so impressed by the beautiful displays and how sophisticated the city was. Now that I have moved here, I continue to be inspired by Canada and Canadian style. Montreal is such a unique city with a strong culture, and I love visiting both the city and our Holt Renfrew Ogilvy store. As I’ve travelled around the country, I’ve found that each city is unique and has its own fashion sensibilities. We at Holt Renfrew are proud to offer the best global brands to Canadians, both in our beautiful stores and online.
Photo HOLT RENFREW