Russian Group Opens Luxury Store by London's Olympic Village

More good news for shoppers in London, especially those tired of Savile Row and Bond Street. (Does anyone ever really get tired of Savile Row and Bond Street? But we digress…)

Reuters is reporting that Russian retail group Bosco, which owns Moscow's GUM department store, has opened a store close to London's Olympic Stadium, its first venture into western Europe.

The fashion and sportswear company will reportedly supply clothing for the Russian, Ukrainian and Spanish teams at this summer's Games in London and is a sponsor of the 2014 Winter Games, which Russia will host in Sochi and when all the officials will wear its designs.

The company has taken a 10-year lease on the store in the Westfield Stratford City shopping mall, which opened last year and has brought luxury brands to what had been one of London's poorest areas.

According to InsideTheGames.biz, the Bosco store will sell three lines that are already popular in Russia: Original, Active and Fashion. The designs have a strong Italian influence, but retain their classically Russian feel, a universal chic with a distinctly local flavor

Bosco, which now has 65 stores, is also looking to expand into Spanish cities Madrid and Barcelona, as well as Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, the 2016 Olympic host. Europe's affluent Alpine ski resorts are also prime markets for future development.