Dior and More

3 major luxury fashion brands move into famous North Austin mall

Zimmermann is one of the new stores at The Domain.

Three major luxury brands are now open at The Domain: Balenciaga, Christian Dior, and Zimmermann. The famous Austin mall has been angling more toward luxury in the past few years.

Although it is common for The Domain to add multiple shops at once, these are unusually big names to be packaged together. This is also a significant development because although items from these brands may have been available around town, these three stores appear to be the only standalone stores for their respective brands in Austin.

A press release announcing the openings gives the most information about the Balenciaga store, which is 6,137 square feet and will carry men's and women's styles, shoes, bags, accessories, eyewear, and jewelry. The façade is made of a composite material combining glass, porcelain, and quartz, and the release says "the store’s construction is careful to respect existing elements," which is to say they did not completely rebuild the storefront. This store is located at Century Oaks Terrace and Agave Lane.

Dior will also feature collections for women and men, as envisioned by Maria Grazia Chiuri and Kim Jones, respectively. Dior emphasizes timelessness and is located next to Agave Park.

Finally, the store fewer Austinites might be familiar with: Zimmermann. The Australian brand is known for flouncy dresses, often in pastels and florals. Its ready-to-wear items are usually priced lower than ready-to-wear by Balenciaga or Dior, but it is still a luxury brand with luxury prices. It is located on Century Oaks Terrace.

Despite a stated interest in attracting luxury brands, the most talked-about development for The Domain in 2024 was a new location for Loro, the casual "Asian Smokehouse" by Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue and Tyson Cole of Uchi. The mall is also welcomed a smaller Ikea store last year.

HAWT COUTURE

Central Texas designers dazzle in avant-garde sustainable fashion show

Photo by Ima Shoots

Alive by Benjamin Medina's "Placebo" collection.

The members of the design collective Bloodbath Studios have a knack for showcasing visionary fashion in unconventional settings. In 2022, they combined queer representation and Americana at Willie Nelson's Luck Ranch. This December, it sent models down the aisles of Austin's Central Presbyterian Church.

The spectacle was part of Metanoia, an avant-garde fashion show documented by local film director and producer Hannah Varnell. As usual, she teamed up with Bloodbath's resident designers, Danielle Shephard, Benjamin Medina, and Navarr Gonzale s, who are creative directors of all the collaborative's shows.

The presentation broadly explored rebirth through the lens of sustainable fashion. Shepard tells CultureMap that her collection used 100 percent natural materials like wool, linen, metals, and leather for the first time.

Contrasting with the harder-edged pieces shown in 2023's Veneration show, Metanoia introduced ethereal elements like feathers, blurred animal prints, and soft draping. Even the more armored pieces featured a new lightness. A chained dress from Medina wrapped the model's body like gossamer, and a fierce metal bandeau from Shepard was paired with a wispy skirt.

In addition to showcasing work from Bloodbath's members, Metanoia made room for other underground creators. Conceptual artist Melanie Alva and ecologically minded brands Prior Waste and Sommestella presented mini collections.

The core designers led CultureMap through the inspirations of this season's designs.

Flamer by Navarr Gonzales

"FLAMER is inspired by all the different forms and curves of each body the brand dresses," writes Gonzales. "Pulling back all the layers and reforming them to emphasize the true form of the wearer. Leather is the core material used and a foundation of all my inspirations. I pull from subcultures within the queer community. The hidden corners of our experiences that are enticing and sensual."

Flamer by Navarr Gonzales A dramatic feathered piece in the Flamer collection.Photo by Ima Shoots

Flamer by Navarr Gonzales A ghostly vision in the Flamer collection.Photo by Ima Shoots

Alive by Benjamin Medina, "Placebo"

"Placebo embodies the quiet, powerful shift that occurs when belief is the only thing standing between stagnation and transformation," writes Medina. "Placebo is not just about change—it's about strength in the face of it. It's the unspoken force that drives you to rebuild, even when you can't see the path ahead."

Alive by Benjamin Medina Draped chains create the illusion of fabric in the Placebo collection.Photo by Willie Wang

Dashe by Danielle Shepard

"Personal style can also be a type of armor," writes Shepard. "This collection drove that home while also putting superior materials and couture techniques on the front lines. My aim is to create personalized heirloom pieces to combat the abysmally expensive cost-per-wear of cheap, poorly made fast fashion garments."

Dashe by Danielle Shepard Shepard says she considers individual clients' styles when creating designs.Photo by Ima Shoots

Dashe by Danielle Shepard The work in the Dashe collection is meant to lastPhoto by Willie Wang

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