CREDIT: STEPHANIE LAI
From left: Lindsey Arseneau, Elizabeth Bunclark, Megan Patterson and Francesca Ricciari put finishing touches on their display at Kingsmill.

Students from Fanshawe College’s Fashion Merchandising program were at the Kingsmill building on November 17, dressing the windows of the former department store for one last holiday season.

Unlike the past 100 years, however, the windows aren’t dressed with merchandise from Kingsmill’s Department Store – they’re dressed with products that were available at the store but can be found in other downtown stores.

“People from all over the country would come to Kingsmill to do their Christmas shopping each year, and each year, they would do the windows with magnificent holiday displays,” said Andrew Sercombe, a marketing assistant at Downtown London.

This year, the windows feature kitchenware from Jill’s Table, home furnishings from Operation Magpie and Quantum, and footwear from Coakleys and Runners’ Choice, among other things.

“Even though the Kingsmills are retired, there are still opportunities to shop in London downtown,” Sercombe said.

The project came about at Downtown London, when employees were throwing around the idea of dressing the windows of Kingsmill for one last holiday season.

“We didn’t want to see these windows empty over Christmas,” he said.

Since construction on Fanshawe’s newly-acquired building is planned to start next spring, Downtown London got Fanshawe and Kingsmill on board to make the project happen.

“It’s actually really fun,” said Francesca Ricciardi, a second-year Fashion Merchandising student involved with the project. “Because it’s Christmas-themed, it’s really festive, too, so it’s been cool.”

The Kingsmill windows will be dressed and displayed until January 6.