Can a retail enterprise that has branded itself for 17 years as “steeped in the independent spirit and rugged individualism” survive a transition into a nationwide chain of cookie-cutter mall outlets? Shoppers can decide for themselves when they see the new Sundance store at Park Meadows, the first of 50 planned reincarnations of the Utah boutique (and wildly successful catalog operation) founded by Robert Redford to help fund his annual film festival.
Sundance does look different, with restored barnwood floors, giant dressing rooms and unique items – like antique typewriters and lamps made from film reels – that double as for-sale wares and interior decoration.
But the shop’s true appeal is for fans of sophisticated Western style and updated, kitsch-free prairie wear: ankle-length skirts and linen tops, turquoise necklaces that don’t go over-the-top. There’s also plenty of cabin gear: beds, quilts, pillows, picnic gear.
It’s all very Colorado – via the Beehive State.
