Brown Thomas

The retail home to all things lovely, expensive and fabulous, Brown Thomas department store on Grafton Street first opened in 1849 by haberdashers and general drapers Hugh Brown and James Thomas. It started life where Marks and Spencers is now but moved across the road in 1995, taking over the building that was Switzers department store.

1998 saw the introduction of BT2 just up the street, a fashion and lifestyle store aimed at hip and wealthy 18-34 year-old males and females. More recently they have opened branches in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre and the Dundrum Town Centre.

Brown Thomas sells many brands not available anywhere else in the country, including Louis Vuiton, Chanel and Hermes, and a Vera Wang bridal salon.

On Thursday and Friday evenings, many a female city centre worker can be seen dipping their fingers into make-up tester jars and dousing themselves with perfume in-between work and hitting the pub.

Brown Thomas is part of a worldwide company specialising in retail including Selfridges in London and many major stores in Canada.

Written by: Tara Gleeson
Edited by: Aaron Quinn
Uploaded by: Sarah Hoey