Holiday shopping preview: Can Lexington support an international fashion house?

• Name of shop: Albert Couture.
• Owner: Albert Lukonga
• Location: 576 E Third St., Suite 140, Lexington, KY 40508
• Merchandise: Designer, haute couture clothing, shoes and accessories for men, women and children.
• About the store: Albert Couture offers entirely custom-made clothing, including shoes, to its customers. An entire clothing experience.
• Opened: 2020
• Hours: By appointment only.
• Website: https://albertcouture.com/

The holiday retail rush means less to Albert Lukonga than many other store owners in Lexington.

That’s because Albert Couture is a very different kind of business here — a fashion house on Third Street that requires appointments to visit.

Lukonga, who arrived in Lexington in 2006 via the Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe, wants to create Lexington’s first true fashion house, bringing the style of New York and London to Lexington.

He learned from his mother, Tshite Kitenge, who was an African fashion designer whose career was cut short by political strife in her native land.

In four years, he’s seen steady growth, as his business has attracted sports stars like Reed Sheppard and the CEO of the Grammy Awards who want suits that fit perfectly and reflect elegance and sophistication.

“We are fitting more and more people who want to feel special,” Lukonga said.

• What’s the mood of shoppers this year?

Albert Couture is not inexpensive, and its customers are not necessarily affected by economic tailwinds.

“Our seasons are different,” he said. “Nothing is off the rack, the only thing you can buy quickly is a gift card. To me, this should be an entire experience, making products that really matter.”

• Is Lukonga trying anything different this year in terms of marketing? He said he is trying to create a fashion house that brings people to Lexington, rather than sending Lexingtonians to L.A. and New York. He is outfitting more athletes as they make the transition to the pros, and has recently made a suit for top jockey Florent Geroux.

“I want to dress people for the life they just signed,” he said.

But he also wants to create something for Lexingtonians, not only as customers but as a training ground for young people who also want to go into fashion.

“I want to work with UK students so people can get training here and not have to go elsewhere.”

Lukonga said he thinks less in retail seasons than about the long term. He’s going to be outfitting several people for the Grammys in February, and he hopes that will give him a more national reputation.

“I’m thinking about how to make the best clothes you can and build a sustainable business?”

This story was originally published November 19, 2024 at 6:30 AM.