Daslu facts for kids
Daslu was a very fancy and well-known department store in São Paulo, Brazil. It was famous for selling clothes and accessories from many different top fashion brands. People often called it the "fashion designers mecca" of Brazil because it had over 60 different labels and 30 smaller shops inside. Wealthy Brazilians, like famous soccer players and big business owners, would shop there for the newest and most exclusive items. Daslu was also known across South America for its chic and unique fashion. The name "Daslu" comes from Portuguese and means "from the Lu," referring to the nickname "Lu" shared by the two women who started the store, Lúcia and Lourdes.
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History of Daslu
How Daslu Started
The story of Daslu began in 1958. Two businesswomen and socialites, Lúcia Piva de Albuquerque Tranchesi and Lourdes Aranha dos Santos, opened it. They started by selling clothes they brought back from their trips abroad. At first, the store operated out of Lúcia Piva's home. It quickly became popular with São Paulo's wealthy families. The owners even donated some of their profits to charity.
Growth and Expansion
In 1983, Lúcia Piva passed away. Her daughter, Eliana Tranchesi, took over the business. A big change happened in 1990 when Brazil's president, Fernando Collor de Mello, allowed more imported goods into the country. This helped Eliana make special deals with luxury brands like Chanel, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, and Valentino. Daslu then became the most luxurious department store in Brazil. As the business grew, it bought nearby houses and connected them. Eventually, it became one huge, unique shop made of 23 connected homes.
The Grand Villa Daslu
By 2005, Daslu needed even more space. It moved into a huge, four-story building called Villa Daslu. This new store was in the Vila Olimpia area of São Paulo. The Villa was enormous, covering about 17,000 square meters (183,000 square feet). It was incredibly luxurious and had many special features. These included a dealership for Maserati cars, a helipad on the roof for helicopters, and even a special chapel for full-service weddings.
Challenges and Changes
However, 2005 also brought difficulties for Daslu. The company faced legal challenges regarding its business practices. These problems caused Daslu to have financial troubles. For 13 months, the store was not allowed to import new merchandise. By 2011, Daslu was close to bankruptcy. The company was sold to a Brazilian private equity fund for R$65 million. This deal helped the business get new money and pay off some of its debts. Eliana Tranchesi, who owned the company at the time, received a small amount for her shares.
Eliana Tranchesi passed away from lung cancer in São Paulo on February 24, 2012. She was 55 years old.
Final Closures and Brand Sale
In October 2016, Daslu faced more problems. A shopping center where one of its stores was located went to court to evict Daslu for unpaid rent. News reports showed that the store had many other debts and was struggling to pay its employees. The following month, Daslu closed its store in Ribeirão Preto. This left only two locations, one in Cidade Jardim and another in Rio de Janeiro.
Eventually, Daslu closed its remaining stores. In June 2022, a real estate company from São Paulo called Mitre Realty bought the Daslu brand at an auction.
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