Designer duds from Europe

Imagine a boutique featuring women’s European designer clothing – at a discount. Via Manzoni, which recently opened at 239 Pierce Street in downtown Birmingham, is your free airline ticket to some of the finest Italy and Europe has to offer. Owner Guilia Zhou said she and her husband have had a wholesale business for ladies collections in Milan, Italy, for 25 years. “We do all of the designer brands in Europe,” Zhou said. Her husband is also an automotive engineer who does business in the metro Detroit area. In visits locally, they discovered Birmingham, and decided to open their Via Manzoni boutique, which Zhou said, “is a membership club luxury location. We offer discounts for all the merchandise in the store for our members.” Right now, she said, memberships are free after a customer makes an initial purchase on any item, although Zhou anticipates a membership fee beginning next year. What can buyers find? “There are new designer items from all over Italy and Europe – Fendi, Prada, Valentino, Gucci, Miu Miu, YSL, and others,” Zhou said. “We have all the new ladies collections. Our discount concept is to bring the best collections from Italy and Europe for our customers.” Zhou said this summer they will be expanding to home furnishing items from Europe, as well.

Business Matters for the Birmingham - Bloomfield area are reported by Lisa Brody. Send items for consideration to LisaBrody@downtownpublications.com. Items should be received three weeks prior to publication.