A new high-end Italian designer clothing store could open its doors in Hamilton as soon as the end of this month.

The Hornberg Calypso group of stores will be opening a shop which will exclusively sell MaxMara clothes. MaxMara is an Italian designer who produces classically cut clothes and is well known for its tailored suits made out of natural fibres such as wool, linen and cotton.

An advert was placed in The Royal Gazette yesterday for an experienced store manager for the shop, which will take up part of the old Frith's Liquor store at 57 Front Street which closed before Christmas.

The store is currently being refurbished and it is believed will sell not only MaxMara, but also the same designer's Weekend range. Hornberg Calypso, which owns and runs Calypso, Voila and Benetton in Hamilton as well as the Calypso in the Fairmont Southampton Princess, will take up the larger part of the old liquor store, with a new liquor store, Front Street Wines and Spirits, occupying the rest.

In January Pierre Dutoya, general manager of the Hornberg Calypso chain, announced it was to open a store on the site in March. Mr. Dutoya, who has been at the helm of the more than 50 years old company for the past 11 years, was off the Island yesterday and was not available for comment.